I have to agree, I prefer the open pore wood. It has a lot more depth and dimension to it.

 

I prefer open pore wood thses days. Our A6 has it (fine grain ash) and it has a nice understated look. We recently bought a new BMW with open pore oak. It's kind of dark but we prefer it over a shiny finish.

 

I think the open pore wood is modern and snazzy, but doesn't work well with certain interior colors. If the shade of wood is nearly black and has no shine (as does Audi's in this case), it blends in too much with the black interior option. This contributes to the "coal bin" look often given to many recent Audi and VW interiors. Some contrast is a good idea, at least in theory. I don't own such wood, so I cannot confirm. What I'm basing my opinion on is photos and my own glossy red-tinted wood in my IS.