The home is in west central Florida, home of burning sun, salt water
and scratching sand. We have shopped around heavily and the BIG point
against real wood floor is scratching, staining and discoloration from
sun. We have been in homes with real wood whenever anything was slid
on the flooring it left it's mark, permanently. When part of the
floor got direct sun, it discolored. When something was spilled on it
or it got wet with salt water (yeah we fish, jet ski, swim and do lots
in the salt water) it discolored.

Even when shopping we walked by the real wood, I reached up to the
sample pieces and in most I could make a pretty deep mark with my
fingernail. With pets and kids around and all that comes with having
an active home, Pergo might not be "prime" but it's looks a boatload
better then real wood that is scratched and marred by every day living
here in the sunshine state. We're not remodeling a show home, we're
remodeling a functional home that will more likely have a mountain
bike run thru the house into the back yard then a cocktail party. We
want a floor that will last with low maintenance, easy install and
good resilience to life (scratches, spills, stains, sun, sand, etc).

Oh yeah, we put diving boards on basements in Florida and call them
pools :O)

Thanks for the help!