This is a thought I’ve had in the back of my mind for some years now, but only now did it really come to the fore.
The big thing that distinguishes the Yuuzhan Vong (aside from their poorly-explained absence in the Force and organic technology) is their whole schtick as a race of devout masochists. Yet this aspect of their culture has never really been conveyed through any of the visual depictions of them.
Look at the image above. Do they really appear like they ritually disfigure themselves? Sure, they got tattoos, but that’s nothin’. They just look like stereotypically ugly humanoid aliens.
I don’t know. The guy in the front at least looks like he cut up his nose pretty badly compared to the others behind him. Otherwise, I see what you mean.