I agree that its really quite nice looking from the front and the sides (with the subtle curve). The back is ehh, but I don't really look at the back so I don't care. Also, 95% of the time its in my pocket.
As for grippy, I don't think its the back that's the problem so much as the sides where you actually hold it. They are way too slick in my opinion. I'd love it if they made the sides with some super grippy strips on them. I don't use a case at all unless I am going to be somewhere with people who are likely to knock it off the table or pick it up and drop it (ie around a lot of kids or drunk people).