Do you really need a crown after root canal treatment?

I would definitely recommend having a crown on that tooth after a root canal.  Root canal teeth have had the blood supply cut off, therefore they become brittle and you risk fracturing the tooth without a crown on it.  As far as not liking the crown, you should be able to have an all porcelain crown fabricated that matches the other teeth perfectly in the majority of cases.  Good luck. 

I typically will do a onlay, overlay or partial coverage restoration to just cover the biting surface.  kew

After root canal treatment, the tooth is less stable and more fragile than before, hence a full coverage protection, which is a crown is often necessary. Without a crown a tooth may have high risk whereby it may break and fractures, therefore compromising its longevity.