Acually, the grain direction is not just cosmetic, but adds only a little more strength than cross grain does, and does have a slight advantage over cross grain. Slight, but is there. That is why when used in applications requireing max strength, forging is used for the primary shaping. Such as in crankshafts and landing gear struts in aircraft. As far as cosmetic, you cannot see grain direction in steel with the naked eye anyway, unless you see alloy banding, or some similar flaw that might follow grain direction, or after using acid on it.