I guess I should have said "like a classic" and not "dated". Although I do like the way the RC looks up against bikes of it's day, it is starting to get a little long in the teeth. There are those bikes that are absolutely timeless like the mentioned 996, and the MV F4. Sorry but the RC doesn't fall into that category for me.
I was actually thinking about some major tech elements in line with styling. The mirrors, exhaust, sssa, and radial brakes just stand out to me as things lacking on the RC. Backdate that ducati with a couple exhaust cans hanging off the sides, some turn signals sticking off the sides, give it a conventional swinger, axial brakes etc. and you have a bike that doesn't look so hot.