That's an interesting and inciteful observation about shiny things! I would have just guessed shiny = clean, but the attraction probably does pre-date cleanliness being desireable.

I am going to correct myself on car paint, though. I took a photo of the new ride to send my sister, and was floored to see the results. Funny how things you don't notice show up in a photo. (The neighbor's truck is solid primer, and has been for 10 years.) Taken just after sunrise, there are those "studio" reflections. Granted, it was just detailed by the dealer, but still, it's pretty reflective.