the judges seem to favor dryness and hardness over a few cuts and striations.
i think it has something to do with genetics, particularily the big white guys.
dorian, ruhl, jay, and francois, all were much less striated then their competition, but yet they still won. they were big, hard, and dry. it seems the judges reward that over being 'ripped'.
anyone can be ripped. not everyone can be big, hard and dry. case in point - ronnie coleman. in 98, he was dry and had good seperations. as he got bigger, he smoothed out a bit and started holding more water.
i already made you a list of bbers who won shows, who in the process beat guys that had more shape, asethetics, and striations.