Is a natural shoulder on a business suit inappropriate?

I personally don't accept total soft shoulder business suit, most high end brands I knew don't do Kel style business suit.

Most people wont notice what type of shoulder is on your suit, especially if the suit fits well.

No one will care

I wouldn't necessarily go that route on a business suit, but agree that very few would notice or care.

People will notice, especially soft shoulder on sloppy shoulders. Extra bling if one is middle age and obese

I think this is a very subjective question. From a cultural, geographical and industry-specific standpoint. A natural shoulder suit for a creative executive in the US would be more than appropriate, as suits are rarely worn and no one will pick up on details as the suit itself establishes enough credibility. In contrast, a British or Swiss financier's suit might ruffle feathers in a board room if it doesn't adhere to the sharp-lined, masculine "power suit" aesthetic.

In consulting I feel a natural shoulder makes for a nice balance between the formality of a suit, but the approachability of a more casual/natural drape. Then again I'm pretty sure no one thinks about this detail nearly as much as I do...

Sometimes people do have the needs to dress for conformity.

^^^ Agreed.

Others may not be able to specifically identify the difference between a suit with a natural shoulder and their Mens' Wearhouse fare, but they will notice that something is "off".

I think a natural shoulder can make the wearer look "at home" in a suit, which to me conveys a more subtle and effective sense of authority than the so-called power suit.

Think this depends more on the physique of the wearer than the environment he's in.

I doubt anyone will notice apart from a very few who have form views on such matters. These days most people accept RTW and have no knowledge with which to question it. In any event the contract between the military styles of some Savile Row tailors and that of others such as Andersons never excites any interest.

Your market research then should be put aside and you should concentrate on the product

I actually think the natural shoulder would get less negative attention than anything else.

^ Dat

Something built up (especially if it's roped) calls a lot more attention to itself.

If you have a pronounced waterfall on the sleevehead, that is another story - though even there I don't think it really matters.

A lightly padded, unextended shoulder is as unflashy and unobtrustive as you can imagine.