To me this is like asking if looks matter in the vanilla world. Of course they do. Just becuase someone is dom doesnt mean they get an exception from the rule. Am i shallow? Hell no. You should see some of the people i date. I get people that are like 'Why are you dating them!?!" or "you have better taste then that" but to me its not about looks, its whats inside the noggin that counts. I would never want someone to look at me and not give me a chance just becuase of my looks. A lot of people have, saying that i look mean, intimidating, angry, bitchy, and that they didnt want to talk to me becuase of the way i came off. Then once they got to know me, they were shocked to see that i am not that way at all.
Everyone is shallow to an extent. IMO.
As to your next question, on if 'features such as facial hair, muscles, tattoos, piercings, clothes, etc... make the Master'? I like to say no. I know a lot of dom men who have no facial hair, no tattos, or even muscles and they are a very good dominate. In fact my dominate doesnt have facial hair, muscles, or tattoos, is he just as dominate as the muscley, tattooed, bearded man? Id like to think so. Its all up to personal preference on this one. I dont like facial hair, tattoos are fine (since i have 22 of them), muscles are okay, but to me it doesnt make him anymore dom then the rest.