Could the necessity for an n-tiered system become a barrier to entry for underfunded companies, even though there are services such as Google App Engine and cheap web or database hosting?

At times, we cannot find multiple talents in a single development group. Assume that you are working with a team of three developers with poor design skills. Would it be better for a system to show off a poorly designed user interface or invest in user interface development tools and consulting even though that may take a significant portion of your development budget? Give the reasoning for your opinion.