I have a center stand and I like it. All my bikes have had center stands.
It is possible to fit it without having to remove the entire exhaust. You can remove the bolt that holds the pipes under the engine, remove the mufflers and use a pry bar (between the pipes and the engine) to lever the pipes down enough to get clearance to insert the large bolt that goes through the stand's mounting holes.
For me it's not a cosmetic issue, it's one of practicality. It allows you to raise the rear of the bike (anywhere there's a level surface) without the need for a race stand, an accessory that I don't carry with me! That's proved very useful in the past when I've been away from home.
On a day to day basis it allows me to fuel the bike while it's upright and I don't have to sit on it, fit luggage and perform maintenance without worrying about the side stand folding, or dropping the bike off of a race stand (which has happened to some people on this board.) I can raise the bike on its center stand without needing anyone else's help, something I'm not so confident doing with a race stand.
It does reduce leaning clearance but I don't plan on going to the limit on my tires on the street anyway. If you don't have any chicken strips, it means you don't have a safety margin either, so I'm fine with that.
Of course, there are plenty of people on the board who'll disagree with me, but each to his own.