Flicking recently through Wired Magazine, I read an excellent article by Clive Thompson. It [brilliantly] argues that "retro design is crippling innovation". Introducing skeumorphs; or design elements necessary in the past but carried forward to the present, where technically no longer required.
Skeumorphs can hold back design, especially digital design. Where mechanics are still required however, form shaped by function can still be beautiful. Take this speedometer style thermometer/hydrometer from Mitsukoshi in Ginza. I'm not sure if a speedo style thermometer is an unoriginal skeumorph, but it does look great in the bathroom.