The main reason I got the ALX was because it was totally unique for a case / lighting design. There are a lot of weird cases out there, but nothing like this - i mean you have controllable fins that move up and down, and a lighting system that produces an amazing array of both grotesque and elegent moving light patterns.
The fins are totally for show. I've ran many Prime95 tests while OC'ing that brought the system fan up in the 3000rpm level while also running video tests after OC'ing the card, and with fins up or down there's no difference. Dont matter - they look cool.