I Feel So Dumb...

So it all depends on what you like.  Yes, it is good to get the skin tones looking normal, if one is after a conventional portrait.  And it is easier if one has done a custom WB. But in the case of  mixed lighting colors (not the case in your example), even custom WB can fail is your subject is moving around.

In LR4 with the A99, there are many "color calibration" choices that allow you to tinker with the look, if you are shooting raw.  I don't know if that is the case with the A77.  I do know that most Canons give you color calibration choices for raw files.  There is something that bothers me about Canon colors.  But that is totally subjective....