You require 3mm of wear layer to achieve a full sand and refinish.

Part of the thickness of the wear layer is the indication of quality. The thinner wear layers (1.5mm is about as thin as it gets) indicate a lower level of production quality. In other words, the entire production could be of very low quality.

What's the price and what's the finish? Is it polyurethane or is it oil/hardwax?

I would not consider a 1.5mm wear layer for my home. A 4mm wear layer is the minimum you will see on a quality product.

I discourage people from buying products with thinner wear layers but sometimes it's all people can afford. I feel it's false economy since it can never be refinished. If you wear the floor out it would have to be removed and replaced rather than refinished. One can carefully refinish a 2mm product but texture would make that questionable. One can also wire brush a floor upon refinishing. We have developed a couple methods and recently Lagler came out with wire brush sets for their Trio sander.

I have never seen manufacturing issues with thinner engineered products. In fact some have nicer lengths and cleaner veneer quality. They're generally made on the same equipment, using the same glue, and have the same type of finish as thicker products, though possibly a thinner coating.

The textured surface would disguise some wear and tear but ultimately the key to longevity is minimizing wear by employing established practices like strategically placing mats to keep grit off the floor and absorbing wear in heavy use areas, adding protection on furniture legs and recoating before finish is too far gone.

@Johnson Flooring Co Inc

Thanks for your thorough response. The look of that particular product is what I really like. Haven't found anything I like quite as much. The price is a more minor consideration. I agree on the economics of it. I'm guessing it would cost North of $10k to eventually have the "old" floor removed and a new one installed and $10k for the new floor itself, the $3-4k I would save on the cheaper floor isn't worth it.

It's good to know that a floor can be brushed post install. Would a "smoked" wood loose it's color if sanded and refinished?

@SJ McCarthy

It's a polyurethane.

I think I might have to keep on looking.

You can refinish a textured floor using ceramic coated wire brushes. No drum or edger needed.