I guess I was expecting something a little more professional.
Technically, the 996 is the height of "professional". But aesthetically and ergonomically I would agree, it leaves a lot to be desired. I think they went way off in the ditch by trying to make the thing DIN mount compatible. Few people have that option. The great majority of people need a radio that is no bigger than that control head, so they can swivel mount it on a tiny centre console, dashboard, or overhead. And more people would buy more radios if they had more room to mount them. Some people buy fewer simply because there is no room left in their compact car to mount them.
Worse than the size is the faceplate layout. I hate that big ugly knob, but I especially hate those curved buttons around the knob. It's VERY difficult to operate those buttons because of their proximity to the knob. It's much worse when you're trying to do it while driving. And it just so happens that those two inconvenient buttons are the most commonly used buttons on the whole radio.
The silver faceplate sucks too. Seems like they tried too hard to make this thing blend in with AM/FM car stereos, which was an inspired idea, but misguided.