Marble Countertop PROS
• Beauty - Classic, timeless beauty, and a white brightness not available in granite or soapstone.
• Cool Temperature - Marble is wonderful for working with pastry, since it is naturally cool; it doesn't conduct heat very well.
• Cost - While some rarer types of marble are very expensive, the more common Carrara (also called Carrera) marble is one of the least expensive natural countertops.
• Widely available - Unlike some quartzes and the hard-to-find quartzite, marble is available from nearly any stone fabricator or stone yard.

Marble Countertop CONS
• Scratching - Marble can scratch easily, especially when touched for a long period of time by something acidic. A slice of lemon laid down on a polished countertop overnight can leave a mark in the shape of the lemon slice, duller than the surface around it.
• Staining - Marble can also stain; red wine and some fruits are infamous for leaving indelible stains on the marble.

Also, I discovered that honed countertops (the more matte, less shiny finish that comes from abrading the stone) can be much more kitchen-friendly.