Sorry to burst a bubble...It is not about looks or even style it is about the way a line functions.
I am not one to encourage the use of a spliced eye to haul up a sail on a 22 ft boat. The splice means a bury of the line to close the loop. A splice means you have 6-8" of line that is fatter than the line diameter. It also means a single bend around the shackle in the loop (a point of weakness to the line).
The rough and tumble bowline knot is strong and bulky. If you do not tie down the tail it can flap in the air. Some suggest it can work the knot open when exposed for long periods. This means to secure the bowline you wrap it to the running line, with a whipping.
Better, but in both cases you consume a foot or more of line that is loose and loopy.
That is why some clever seaman with time on his hands developed the "Halyard Hitch". It is a compact secure knot that retains the strength of the line yet bites the line locked and secure. Sure you mey need a marlinspike to remove the knot, to better a sharp knife to cut off the 6 or so inches to free the halyard for replacement or maintenance. It is the knot encouraged to secure your halyard to a shackle to lift your sail into place at the top of the mast and NOT get tangled or jammed in the sheave.
Looks like this
View attachment 210451
Advantages: The Halyard Hitch Knot is extremely compact which makes it an admirable choice for a halyard.
Disadvantages: This Halyard Hitch Knot cannot be tied or untied under load and, after being heavily loaded, it can be hard to release.
How to tie it.
A very compact knot used to join a halyard line to a shackle. The Halyard Hitch is extremely compact which makes it an admirable choice for a halyard.
www.animatedknots.com
I personally like a little longer tail for the knot to bite on.