This is my personal belief on embellishing a piece.
To me an embellishment is added for one purpose and one purpose only, and that is to enhance a piece you have made. I understand that the trend is too showcase the embellishment more than the piece. And that is fine some are truly stunning works of art and then some are almost silly looking to me. Don't get me wrong I recognized the exceptional amount of skill and work that has gone into these kind of pieces and doubt if I could ever duplicate what some have created. I am not wanting to get into an art vs utility thing, or what is art, not at all I guess what I am saying is too much embellishment IMHO can take away from your piece. Finding that perfect amount of embellishment that enhances but doesn't take away from your work is what I shoot for. Have I missed it before, OH YES more than I probably ever hit it right. I guess that is why I try to do series of pieces with a common denominator because as I finish one piece, I see how to improve on the next one and practice does help. I will shut up now and am curious as to your thoughts on the subject of % of embellishment you prefer and why.

This reminds me of two great guitarists that I admire, Django Reinhardt and BB King.

Django believed in filling each moment of a musical score with as many notes as possible where BB sometimes felt that only 3 or maybe 4 notes is all that is needed.

The trick to art is knowing when to stop.

But how can you finish something if you don't start?

The architect, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, said it all in his famous quote:

"Less is more". 

This begs the question of what is the definition of embellishment?  I commonly cut 2-3 lines/grooves in the bottom of bowls.  Other times I have cut beads in the side of bowls.  If these are examples of embellishment then I suspect we all do it a great deal.  Another example would be adding a nice finial to a box.

Sometimes typos are hilarious, as is yours ED.
Form before function, or function before form?  The question has been discussed in ART classes for eons.  The mark of an accomplished artist is knowing when to say "It's done".  That said don't be afraid to go beyond once in awhile,  the next time you will know when to stop.

I would not add embellishments to a piece where the wood grain has already done the work for you. Let mother nature stand in her own glory. That said, the common wood where I live is White Birch.  This wood (if not spalted) is ... bland, very bland...  like "white wonder bread" BLAND. (I think you get the idea...)

I have found that doing SOMETHING (even small) can add significantly to the final piece.  As mentioned a few times here already - when does one stop?

Lol example below ...

Sometimes when I look at some of the work that is displayed in American Woodturner I wonder what portion was actually done on a lathe.  I question why they are even called turnings.  The embellishments are the focus and are not what I consider enchancements.

To me, it's kind of like how the politicians define pornography.  "I'll know if a turning has too much embellishment when I see it."  That's about as good as I can do.