Orbital sander is your friend. Means you can't use wet and dry, but makes light work of large flat panels.
I'm of the opinion that working machines don't need to be works of art. They're going to get bashed/covered in ****, so I personally don't see the point in concours finishes in production enviroments. I can understand why somebody like JH does it, as it showcases the kind of work he does, and gives potential customers a good impression.
I'd personally keep it a light colour, as it'll help brighten up the workshop by bouncing light around. Nothing worse than a big dark box that just absorbs light, especially in small spaces.