Hello Audra. We are a fabricator of natural and engineered surfaces and may be able to shed some light on the durability issue (to the best of our knowledge, of course). There have been recent advances in the industry in the past year or so in regard to the sealing of marble. While we still use the trusty Tenax Hydrex for most granite surfaces, we now use either Dry-Treat Meta Creme or Dry-Treat Stain-Proof for marble, travertine and limestone countertops with fantastic feedback from our customers. Dry-Treat warranties these products for 15 years when they are applied by an accredited applicator. These sealing treatments will protect against staining, however, they will not prevent scratching or etching. The only way (as of now) to protect against etching is to use a honed marble versus a polished marble. With a polished marble, even when treated, acidic products will immediately etch the surface - in other words, when acidic products come into contact with polished marble it will essentially hone that area resulting a spotty look.

As for the Caesarstone Misty Carrara, it is a popular choice for homeowners who desire the look of Carrara marble without the maintenance and worry. Other engineered quartz lines that are also mimicking marble are Silestone's Lyra, Dupont Zodiaq Okite's Bianco Carrara and Cambria's Waverton and Torquay. Since they are still engineered quartz products, the pattern is more uniform and does not have the natural movement of the marble. Aesthetically, in a personal opinion, the engineered quartz materials will give the desired overall look from afar though the difference is apparent when closer. Functionally, the engineered quartz products are certainly more durable than marble in regard to scratching and etching (when polished).

Best of luck!