HTPC: Why so small?

Today, BoxGods ask an interesting question. Do HTPCs need to be in extremly small cases? Well, no, not really. When you think about the equipment the HTPC might be replacing: DVD player, Stereo, maybe video recorder if you're going with a PVR setup, then the space taken up by the devices being replaced is probably greater than a small ATX case. So, why not find a nice (cheap) ATX case for an HTPC? Today they review such a case.

A case like the one reviewed would function fine as an HTPC, and doesn't look too bad at all. However, I think the biggest issue for many users is the fact that they'll have a PC in their front room. Do people really want that? Perhaps the real problem is that people don't want something that looks like a PC sitting next to their TV, instead opting for more stylish (and inherantly smaller) cases.