FWIW, and possibly unfortunately, I agree with your friend. The short moment when the door is open isn't sufficient to justify matching the satin nickle inside; and IMHO, metals within eyeball range should be at least of similar color. One sees (even if not consciously studies) the exterior lights and exterior knobs as a decor unit, and upon departing, the room's interior knobs (whether cabinet or several doors) are a different unit. I realize the SET of mix/match knobs looks strange while it's in your hand, but honestly, once installed, I don't think anyone ever stands at the door's edge in order to eyeball the interior and exterior knobs at the same time. I suspect you'd have to work hard to name any m/m sets in your present world, and yet there are likely to be many (especially on bathroom doors).

What about centering a panel door. I have 6 panel doors. we put a barn door (6 panel) between the master bedroom\bath and i like the way it looks from the bedroom but not too crazy about the bathroom side. I want to put one in between my kitchen and laundry. The laundry side will have the hardware.. But how is it going to look from the kitchen? We have to hang it high because of a cabinet issue in the laundry.. so it will be about an 84" door in a 80" hole...

All our interior door hardware matches. Many of the exterior doors match the interior handles. The front door has a more ornate lockset. There are also a bunch of Anderson patio doors and those have a "compatible" but not attempted to be the same lockset on them. Wherever possible we have brushed nickel on the interior and a darker bronze on the exterior, though that's not always possible (some locksets you can't mix and match so you have to pick one). You do the best you can, but as long as you're not mixing ultra modern design satin nickel with polished brass victorian, things will work out...

Matters NOT. WHAT MATTERS IS does your hardware selection, the door stain or color or the hardware on that door in both style and finish...........suit the door itself, and also the exterior of your home. We certainly don't know that. Do we?