A lot of us work hard to get that look, with perfect saturation and no air pockets. Garrison is noted for his completely transparent wraps, and arcane formulations and procedures abound for getting "floating guides," where the guides appear to be encased in clear or tinted glass. Also, I personally believe that complete saturation of the thread is good for the longevity of the wraps, and shellacs and lacquers (color preservatives) block this saturation. In reality, this is probably a moot point with freshwater fly rods that are babied as compared to conventional tackle. Tight lines.
-CC