I don't mind machine finish, no polish. Not a lover of the matte bead blasted look except for specific applications - barrels not being one of them. I order most of my barrels as machine finish, raw, or in-the-white (which doesn't make much sense to me in Stainless?), maybe give them a bit of a glow with fine emory when I install, then live happy.
Glass bead blasting can produce a shallow hardened surface, other media blasting/dulling does not.