As to general appearance, you’re 100% correct but neck ties are, IMHO, the same extent of silly and antiquated as powdered wigs worn by barristers and legislators. This is of course a deep subject of psychological, political and societal norms but having experienced both military and civilian life, I feel strongly that militaries have been getting things right for nearly two centuries by placing those of all ranks in a duty uniform / “uniform of the day” consisting of an open-collared shirt. Ties are only for “Class A” or “dress” attire. Such a tradition calls attention to overall bearing and performance rather than focusing on “the suit”, e.g. the silly ossifer with the neck tie.
I’ll take it deeper than that. Neck ties impart on the wearer and simultaneously convey to others dressed less formally a false and unproductive sense of “us vs them”. As Mr. Gump famously said, “And that’s all I’ve got to say ‘bout that.”
