This is absolutely true! I've benefitted from my looks (more so when I was younger, but still to some extent today) and was well aware of it. And I'm ashamed to admit, I've done my share of flipping my hair and batting my eyelashes to get to the front of lines or receive preferential service. But there is, as you point out, a downside. it can be lonely and soul crushing to be valued only for your "packaging" and nothing else.