I agree, even if you dont like the artscroll look, they revolutionized the siddur.
I think we’re kinda spoiled and that’s why we want a siddur with EXACTLY the way we daven. I used to feel this way a lot when i ws younger but i think i got over it.
Real cool, my shul has a certain nusach they use and recently got a custom nusach artscroll Shatz sized siddur for the amud. Until then it was full of don’t and do’s with arrows and stuff.
Personally im used to the artscroll but started using kol yaakov siddur a lot more. The letters have a warmer look to them. Id say in my limited travels to shuls n shteeblach the kol yaakov is the no. 2 siddur out there popularity wise