If they didn't want to spoil the look of the front, they could just have a small touch sensitive panel?

Perhaps put a small glass Apple logo on the front, which when pressed turns the device on - they could even make it glow white.

Not really the backs are completely smooth so any openings and buttons can be found by touch alone. So not necessary to have them where they can be seen.

But why should you have to fumble around at the back, or have to turn the Mac around to find what you're looking for?
Don't get me wrong, there's a lot I like about Apple's industrial design, but their obsession with style sometimes overshadows functionality.

I say fumble, but I can switch it on by simply running my hand down the back and feeling where the on switch is. Hardly difficult.

...but still inconvenient. What's wrong with a power button on the front?

Plus I know a few photographers who would possibly be interested in the Mac mini, as the Mac Pro is overkill for some people and it allows them to use a non-glossy display of their choice for example. Imagine how annoying it would get on a daily basis constantly plugging and unplugging an SD card in round the back to get your shots onto the Mac. It's a nice design, but could be more practical if they thought of the end user more.

Can we not just agree to differ??? It seems a waste of forum-space to just repeatedly express the same views. Some people think it's too inconvenient having things at the sides/back - some people think it brutalises the design. Each to their own.