Phantom looks like it simply means business, rough rugged business, time and time again. No fancy schmancy curvatures like the sexeh F-16 or F-15, no trashy "use once and throw away" looks like the Mig 17/19/21.
As for being a turkey, the F-4s over Vietnam and the Middle East proved to be better at almost everything then the Migs they faced at the time. Technologicaly advanced, they could shoot down the Migs before they even caught a view of their dirty exhaust. Even when this advantage was negated by strict rules of engagement over Vietnam, some pilots like "Duke" Cunningham could make the Phantom dance toe to toe with the Mig-17 even in the low speed regime.
The Phantom is the ultimate energy fighter of the 60's & 70's jet age, like the P-47 was in WW2. No other fighter could match its combination of advanced avionics, superb performance, and multirole capability.