comfort zones - are you comfortable with scales?

No, I don't mean the kind of scales we stand on - I'm not comfortable with those at all! I mean the other kind of scales - reptilian scales.
Yes, I'm going to talk about my lizard. Well, a little, anyway.
The lizard really belongs to one of my sons, but he (we are assuming it's a 'he') has turned out to be the family's lizard because we're all very fond of him. He's quiet, he doesn't smell, and even though he doesn't do much, he does resond to us when we talk to him. The best thing about him is that he likes to snuggle. He's a cold-blooded creature and he likes to lounge in the heat, so when we pick him up he appreciates and takes advantage of our body heat. Sitting and watching television, unless he feels like exploring, he will sit quietly on us for hours.
But he's not soft and fuzzy like most pets people have.
He's actually, yes, read my subject title, scaly. He's not a pattable pet. Actually sometimes we do pat him, but you can only pat him one way, down. It's also not the same "warm fuzzies" we get from patting our dogs.
But everything said and done, the lizard is quite harmless and the most docile animal I've ever seen domesticated. Yet, so many people are afraid to touch him. I don't thinke he looks mean. In fact, I've been bitten by some fuzzy and allegedly freindly furry pets, and it hurts. The lizard has never bit anyone, and I don't think he would ever want to. Yet some people are afraid of him because he's a little ugly. Based on perception, of course.
So here's my question/thought of the day. Have you ever based an opinion on appearance only and not given the situation a chance? If you could go back and do it over again, what would you do?