I'm still using the stock leather strap. It would probably look good on a nato, but I find them uncomfortable. Rubber straps seem wrong for this style of watch IMHO.

I still have and like the watch. I don't think the dial looks cheap, and it's unique. I think the main thing some folks won't like is that you can sometimes hear/feel the winding rotor, but that doesn't bother me at all. My main complaint would be that in some lighting conditions, the hands are hard to see against the dial. But others they stand out fine, so not a big deal.

I have a real BB36 (blue), and a San Martin Ranger (black w/ faux lume)...  I much prefer the dial and hands on the BB36.

I've said this in other threads, but I think the BB36 looks kinda boring in pictures, but great on the wrist.  The 36mm Rolex Explorer is the opposite for me, that 369 looks awesome under macro but underwhelming in person.

My experience is that all watch strap & NATO companies are super aggressive in their marketing.  That being said, I've had good experience with Barton, and I really appreciate offering smaller straps by default, as most brands are comically long on me.

I think hands are meant to resemble an altimeter, which can often be rather stubby.  That's the whole reason I bought my 556i, it's less flieger and more cockpit instrument.

As a fun project I built my own 36mm Explorer (sterile dial).  I don't wear it much, turns out I find small black-dial watches a bit boring, despite loving the 3-6-9 dial in photos.  

On the other hand, I always thought the BB36 was a bit weird in photos, but my "explorer" experience made me give it a chance.  I picked up a used blue dial variant, and it looks so much better in person.  Something about the chunky dial indices, and slab slides, and protruding crown on a small watch give it huge character.  It also has a very nice slim profile, great bracelet.  I wish it had an on-the-fly micro adjust, but given it's relatively light, it's comfortable to wear a bit loose.

I like weird dial watches... I have a lopside Christopher Ward, the rather sterile Sinn 556i RS, the oft-derided Black Bay 36, a 62MAS clone with a wonky 6 o'clock index...    oh, and I'd buy a Pelagaos if it wasn't too big for me.