I disagree with your statement.  DoF enhances an image, adds a point of interest, and isolates the background from the main character or object.  Crystal-sharp backgrounds are great for landscapes, vistas, and panoramas, a method to diminish your character into the greater scope of his/her environment.  Sit down, watch a movie, and note how often DoF is interwoven in the telling of the story.  Portraits, street photography, and close-ups depend on this technique to make a point and statement.  Making the statement that it is merely a pinup feature is really not thinking through why and when it should be applied.