It seems obviuous to make ease of access for maintenance as a major criteria in choosing a boat.

It might not be the reason for being drawn to a boat, but it could be a reason for passing on a design that might otherwise be appealing.

With newer boats I see a lot of hull liners that would create maintenance access problems later. Things get installed in between the hull and the liner during construction that you might want to repair or replace later. I see it as a big issue.