Well, the first time I saw the CZ-75 in bright stainless, I became enamored by what the piece looked like and damn the actual performance ('tho, it being a CZ I was fairly confident in its performance) ...
It's not just new shooters ... I'll admit it: I've bought a gun based solely on its looks ...
But, in answer to the question, I'd say no -- most new shooters I've met, when they started carrying, actually seemed far more concerned with size, weight, capacity, caliber, but mostly the PRICE, rather than appearance. Witness sales of Ruger and Taurus, for example.