LED lit tubes would keep me from buying an amp - never mind this creation. Like the newer Mac 275's and some versions of the Cary SLI-80 which are good amps.
Please, don't be ridiculous. Apples and oranges. This discussion is about a little headphone amplifier.
I get the LEDs shining through the bottom of the tubes to make it look cool. I have preamp tubes that you can barely tell are lit unless you're in a completely dark room.
That added nothing to the cost. Buying 2 tubes and sockets and installing them adds cost. If it sounds great as a solid state unit, word would get out. I'd be surprised if they weren't actually in the circuit.
I see in some pictures other small amps designed by the same folks that use blue LEDs. No pretense there. In at least one picture it appears the filament may be lit softly. (Insert who knows shrug emoji.)