Did you notice how the flapjack kalanchoe in the upper left looks like a butterfly? It may outgrow that shape, but it does lend a certain je ne sais quoi. Some cactus & succulent collectors are into "staging" or presenting the plants as they might look in habitat, with a simple pot, topdressing and maybe a couple of rocks. It's a spare, elegant approach, and over time venerable succulents (depending on the kind of course) may become bonsais. A few collectors elevate roots to show them off, especially if gnarly or bulbous. If this intrigues you, you might "friend" Keith Kitoi Taylor (president of the Sacramento Cactus & Succulent Society) on fB. He occasionally shows wonderful specimens in his own collection, in pots he throws himself. His photography is amazing, too. Also google "caudiciforms," a term that refers to succulents with fat stems or roots.