Don't know if any of you have seen this, but I first spotted these aluminum & plastic ***** in a Mazda3carpet.com Youtube video. I think there is at least 1 other aftermarket HVAC **** set out there but I like the way these look. Bought them from Ebay but they're also available from Autolismo of Canada:

***** only:


Before:


After:


Interior overall:

 

Hmmm! Not bad. Are they back lite so the light from behind shines through the pointer?

The others I have seen are all aluminum w/fluted *****. Is that what you're referring to?
I looked at those but thought them a little too much bling for my tastes.