There'd Better Be Something Good in iOS 7

Because, having just updated my iPad, I'm struck by how ugly and flat all the icons and interface elements look now. Apple did this on purpose?

It's not even retro in its flatness, just dull and lifeless. I can't see how anyone would consider this an improvement in any way.

So there'd better be something that iOS 7 does better than the prior version, or I just smeared a layer of mud on my tablet just to assuage Jony Ive's ego.