I suppose it is important to note that we're talking about the <i>subjective</i> quality of the person. You're lying if you can't look at someone and tell me whether they appear to meet your personal criteria for physical quality.<p>My suspicion is that there is a correlation between self-esteem and ones comfort with the word "quality" when applied to people. I <i>know</i> that anyone whose judgment I respect would view me as a "quality person", so I have no problem with the term. If I was insecure and didn't think of myself as a person of quality, then I might have an issue with the concept.