Getting permission from the AHJ is not an NEC violation and it is a legitimate and professional way to handle this.
For me The only way I would consider this is if I could be assured I was really dealing with the AHJ and that AHJ was giving me something in writing that shows they where OK with it.
As without any paper to go back to it is an NEC violation that I could be brought into question for.
I would not put my license on the line simply because a customer does not like the looks of enclosed trims vs black baffles.
It surprises me that so many would.
To each their own.
