Well I suppose it all depends on how long you intend to keep the bike, and if you think of chrome as just another coating like paint that will eventually need to be replaced (any good plater can strip and re-chrome old parts) eventually, it's not so bad.
I've got some "manky" chrome plated parts (including a really trick looking finned alternator cover) in my garage, but many of these items were done over 20 years ago and then left in the weather for a long time, so there aren't too many coatings that will hold up much better under these circumstances.
A lot of "accessory" chrome items that were available at bike shops back in the day were very poorly chromed, often it wasn't chrome at all but nickel, while all the "quality" platers were "triple plating" (copper/nickel/chrome) their parts, which was more labour intensive, (and more expensive) but a lot more durable.
I too like polished alloy that has been clear coated, but once again, this isn't a permanent fix, and (depending on use and exposure to weather) will require repeated treatments over several years, which is a pain. I'd rather ride than polish so I'd consider just chroming the external covers rather than spend my spare time buffing aluminum. I spent a couple of evenings doing the valve cover on my K1 about 24 years ago, and by the time I'd lost my finger-prints, I'd also lost all interest in polishing, forever! Cheers, Terry.
