That's exactly why they chose it. The mythos of the Stradivarius is 100% about look and feel as opposed to anything real about the sound. It's the same reason expensive wines are tasted in fancy tasting rooms.
Nope. The Strads do have a great sound. The fact that select modern instruments can make equally great sound does not in any way diminish that for most of the last two centuries, Strads were among the very best-sounding violins.