Originally Posted by
Milton Keynes
It kind of does. In that sometimes thieves will destroy a lock to steal even a beater bike, so it likely won't make any difference if you deface your good bike to look like a beater.
Sure, thieves will break a dollar-store lock to steal a crappy bike; I've previously stated that.
Will they break a good lock (properly used) to steal a beater-bike? Anecdotally, I don't know of that happening.
So the real question remains unanswered.