He gave the green-light for the antenna bands on the stainless steel bands for the iPhone 4... he even specifically called them out during the keynote.

The notch would have gotten a better explanation - the reason they chose the shape, the extra utility of the areas outside the notch, the fact that it gives the iPhone a unique silhouette against other smartphones.

He hated ugly things that didn't have a purpose.

The notch had plenty of purpose, if anything he probably would have thrown a fit at first and then declared that it was his idea a day or two later.