I might agree that lycra might not look best, even though I spend some 80% of my training time in lycra (xc skiing is in lycra, cycling is in lycra, running and trail running is in lycra, but at least ski touring, alpine skiing and ice hockey are not
). But for mtb, I simply can't imagine having extra pair of baggy shorts over proper cycling pants with chamois, especially when it's +35c. So looking good or bad is something that doesn't worry me all that much. Afterall, I'm on mtb in middle of nowhere, and if animals see me in lycra it's not that much of an issue. There's very little people who see me on my trails
As for crashing goes... my bib shorts are mainly some Chinese stuff for about 70-80eur/shorts (believe it or not, they are better then any Casetelli for 300eur, but top Assos models for 450eur still beats them). Normal baggy shorts are pretty much in same price range, and as for XC you can't have some super durable DH/MX pants, these are almost as fragile as lycra when crashing. So crashing and tearing one or the other is pretty much same expense in my case.