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As I should be able to tell what army you're using (assuming Crimson Fists?), I'd know that any Captains/Chapter Masters have Iron Halos. Therefore, it's not a huge issue to me not being explicitly modelled with one - I wouldn't ask an opponent to put bolt pistols and frag and krak grenades on each Tactical Marine. WYSIWYG, in my opinion, needs to identify the model, what it is equipped with, and any details that could come into play.
I would need to be able to tell at a glance that your model is your Captain, and sometimes, a fancy paintjob doesn't always cut it. If you want him to stand out from the crowd, back banners or raising him on a piece of rubble or debris works wonders.

TL;DR - If I can tell that it's a Captain, and I know that Captains have Iron Halos, then I have no issues.

There's an Iron Halo in the Tactical Squad sprues. Its on a Pauldron, but if you wanted one, there it is.

Not sure about the vet kit, but I don’t think so.

There should be a halo in the multi-part commander kit. I know I used two of that kit as key parts of some of my captains. As I never owned the terminator box, it can’t have come from there.

In addition to capes, the rope/cord/braid thing on the torso is another good indicator, but that also shows up on some vet shoulderpads. Capes can be hard to do on bike/JP captains, but are very good on the foot ones.

 Nevelon wrote:
Not sure about the vet kit, but I don’t think so.

There should be a halo in the multi-part commander kit. I know I used two of that kit as key parts of some of my captains. As I never owned the terminator box, it can’t have come from there.

In addition to capes, the rope/cord/braid thing on the torso is another good indicator, but that also shows up on some vet shoulderpads. Capes can be hard to do on bike/JP captains, but are very good on the foot ones.

Yeah, the old Commander kit was brilliant for this. It had an Iron Halo piece.
Another kit which had an Iron Halo is the current Tactical Marine kit AFAIK - it's embellished on the shoulder pad.

 Nevelon wrote:
One thing about Iron Halos is they help separate the captains from the sergeants. Depending on your paint job and how well you equip your guys, it can be hard to pick out the HQ in a squad of assault marines or vanguard vets. The halo is a specific badge of office these days, that helps point out the HQ in the mob.

It’s not required, but it’s a good idea. More so if you don’t paint.

I'm anal retentive when it comes to making sure that all of the units and models are clearly distinguishable from each other.

Regular sergeants have a red shoulder pauldron (and red helmet, if they are wearing helmets).

Sternguard veterans have golden helmets and with either scopes, big magazines or both (5 of my sternguard are "counts as" old tactical marines with the scoped bolters; I put red tabards on their shoulder pads to cover up the tactical symbol).

Sternguard veteran sergeants also have a golden shoulder pad.

Honor guard have at least one golden shoulder pad (chapter champion has two), in addition to maces, boltpistols and bolters clearly displayed on the models.

Captain has golden helmet, shoulder pads AND backpack with a red banner on his backpack and a golden eagle thing on his backpack. Not to mention the different war gear (pistol and fist).

Non-veteran models have a single (right) red hand (I know it's supposed to be the left, but I didn't feel like doing it all over again).

Veterans have two red hands.

Heck no. It's an invisible force field. BUT if you want to make an iron halo - I have in the past used the tip bit from the nemesis force stave from a GKSS. This bit is pretty easy to come about from any GK player - check for it.

http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/OTA0WDE2MDA=/z/PlUAAOSwPc9WufI7/$_35.JPG

 Xenomancers wrote:
Heck no. It's an invisible force field. BUT if you want to make an iron halo - I have in the past used the tip bit from the nemesis force stave from a GKSS. This bit is pretty easy to come about from any GK player - check for it.

http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/OTA0WDE2MDA=/z/PlUAAOSwPc9WufI7/$_35.JPG

That is brilliant.

 Sgt_Smudge wrote:
TL;DR - If I can tell that it's a Captain, and I know that Captains have Iron Halos, then I have no issues.

I think this is probably my view on it as well. One of the things that's interesting about this question is that the "iron halo," unlike say bolt pistols, powerfists, or stormshields, are not a well known and easily recognized piece of wargear. Even if I did see a model with such a bit over their head, I wouldn't assume they had the wargear, but rather that it was purely as aesthetic choice.

So what I'm taking from this thread is that as long as something on the captain (aside from weapons and other distinguishable wargear) is pimped out or blinged up enough to signify him as a captain over all other units, it is reasonable enough to assume he has an Iron Halo.
However as far as WYSIWYG, as mentioned by the OP, it seems only be considered courteous but not mandatory.
I highly doubt someone would walk away from a game with you because your captain had no distinguishable Iron Halo (Though with tournament play YMMV)