Maybe pictures don't do it justice, but my opinion is the outside of the building was ugly even if the light court was cool.
I disagree - I really like the exterior and roughness of it - a nice contrast and surprise to the polished light court.
Seems to me it (and the Nicollet K-Mart) were less the civic vandalism that they're portrayed as now as opposed to dealing the unfortunate reality at the time.
Unfortunate reality of what, exactly? According to records, the Met was mostly occupied. The only "unfortunate reality" of it being torn down is that the ideology of the time dictated it be removed, without regard to the fact it was a significant building, and without regard to the fact that businesses still wanted to be located there.
Tearing this building down was sheer lunacy.
I also think tearing Peavey Plaza down is also lunacy. Peavey has only gotten ugly because of intentional neglect. It could still be beautiful if the concrete was fixed up or reclad with a similar-looking material that would be more resistant to the elements.