The Glorious Heritage does not need its sweeping lines for travel through ordinary space or its fictional faster-than-light system. Its shape is an aesthetic choice that also contributes to image projection. In the comparison with a Cardassian design, the Glorious Heritage is judged the more inspiring ship to see arriving overhead. That judgment concerns the impression made by the hull as well as the separate question of which ship would win a fight.
Notable Point · 1:00:26-1:01:38
Warship aesthetics can project political power
The Glorious Heritage's elegant shape has little aerodynamic purpose but strengthens the image projected by the ship and its polity.