The pipe on my kdx is old and ratty lookin'. So when I wacked another dent into it I said screw the cosmetics, I driled a few sheet metal screws into it and used a automotive slide hammer dent puller. Then mig welded the holes ground and filed it then painted it with high heat flat black spray paint. From 10 feet away it looks better than before up close I don't think it looks any worse than it did before.
I wouldn't go this route on a " nice looking" pipe, but for something old the repair cost was right.