[Adam]

Jeff,
I agree with you on the standards of appearance, but this is bound to vary by region. For example, SD may be more politically conservative than the rest of CA, but it's still CA and I would venture to say the standards of dress are still more casual in the business world of SD than they are in Des Moines or Minneapolis or Kansas City. The individual details of these things are going to vary widely by region.

My philosophy on the appearance thing (goatees, ponytails, etc) is that you just need to do as the Romans are doing. If your particular area doesn't give a rip, then don't worry about it. If it's a problem where you live, then I'd adhere as best as possible to the unspoken local standards. Just don't be surprised to find that the hippies in CA do it differently.