Paint It White ARGH!!!!

A very quick rant. I get so sick of hearing auctioneers telling people when the bidding is slow "if you don't like it now, paint it white". I almost blow my stack when I look around the room and people nod and agree. I see so much good and high quality antique and vintage furniture nearly destroyed with gallons of white paint, and it seems to be becoming and epidemic at the antique markets. If it's cheap (not solid wood) plywood than go for it but don't trash the oak, walnut, maple, teak etc pieces and lay off the heavy varathane and shellac there are better quality sealer's that will look 100 times better.