This generalisation of interface visual styles being either 'flat' or 'skeurmorphic/not-flat' concerns me.

I've experienced interfaces both good and bad that sit at either ends of the spectrum. It's hard to say which is better than the other because in reality most interfaces seem to land somewhere in the middle.

I find the whole debate rather shallow. As designers we should be educating others that a style is the result of a variety of factors such as branding, fashion, originality, time constraints, content, function, hardware, software etc etc.

I've already been asked by clients for "flat design" and it makes me cringe every time.