I am battling the same problems; brushed stainless applied over copper came off. Anything that is an applied surface will be in trouble and I think they may all be made that way. Right now, I'm thinking that an intermediate priced faucet is best since I'll be replacing it in a couple of years.

If you are getting water spots on the surfaces, then you are not cleaning/wiping the surfaces often enough. I keep a microfiber towel by my sink to wipe it dry and polish it.

Or you could get a resin type water softener that takes out the calcium and iron. Calcium and lime are the same thing.

An intermediate priced faucet might br my best bet, but even then with two faucets and shower and tub it will still be a little pricey. I do wipe the faucets and drains each time I use them, but getting DH to is another srory! We have gone through two different softners in about the 20 years we've lived here, neither or them worked really well. We have VERY hard water! Thanks for the suggestions!

For heavens sake, just get polished chrome faucets, and clean regularly. Nothing will stay shiny clean with very hard water, unless you spray with cleaner, wipe dry after use. But chrome is certainly the EASIEST to keep shiny clean, and spot free.

I am just wanting to find a finish that the cleaner won't corrode.

The interior of your pipes is getting that same hard coating. And it will continue to limit the water flowing through the pipes as more deposits happen.

The cure to all of your issues is the proper water treatment. Repiping your whole home can be darn expensive!