That seems to be a different problem.

It seems some of the trouble and cost is with the size (miniaturization, electronic component duplication for each tile...).

Why not simply create larger "tiles", a la sheeted roofs? If aesthetics is the only goal, you can take a bit more hit on efficiency and have different patterns on them that are not necessarily energy-producing (eg. you take a current-tech solar panel and paint and perhaps even sculpt anything on parts of it to make it look better).

Since the efficiency hit is generally pretty big (your roof is unlikely to be inclined and pointed in a way to get the most of sun rays in your area), they need to be much cheaper than traditional panels per unit of coverage to be even cost-comparable.

FWIW, I like this and would gladly install them on my roof. I've actually searched for "solar roof tiles" long before this was announced (didn't come up with anything :)).

But perhaps this project needs a stepping stone to regular-looking tiles first (as I said, larger, sheeting-like solar panels for installation on commercial roofs, if designed in a nice way, perhaps even for residential use).

The photograph doesn't look that good. His whole roof isn't even covered, just a section in the middle that clashes with the border! If that's the aesthetic 'improvement' offered then give me regular large slab panels please.

Exactly, that was my point. I don't know if it makes sense to pay a large premium for the roof aesthetics. From my point of view, it is just a bad design of the product. Maybe it will change in the future, but for now, I wouldn't put those tiles on my roof.