Yes, I'd have added butcher-block. It's a popular surface (or was). My mother loved hers. That written, it did require maintenance with the occasional re-oiling and/or paraffin treatment.Other: good old wood.
In that case, I'd definitely go laminate.Since I have a manufactured home which is not as heavily built as an older on-site build (and not sitting directly on a slab) I'd go with whichever material weighed the least. Not knowing much about the materials listed I'd probably guess a wood or laminate as being the lightest weight?
User fee indeed! Seriously though it is also your enjoyment. We are about to pull the trigger on a new kitchen here even though I doubt we will be living here many more years (less than 5 on the current trajectory) Most of that is just because the old kitchen is done and we like a nice looking and functional house. However, in terms of ROI - don't forget that it is more than 5k in 4k out - a house with a nice kitchen will sell quicker - so, theoretically if you are paying a mortgage of $1000 and it sells a month quicker, in (I know I am painting with a braid brush) you have broken even 5k in = 4k return + 1k opportunity cost. Another way to consider it is what is happening here in Ontario (Toronto especially) Families can (just) afford the mortgage but not improvements so are getting into bidding wars, partly because it is a seller's market but also because then the improvements (nice kitchen/ hardwood floors etc etc) are a part of the mortgage and not on top of the mortgage. So. coming back to our kitchen, even if we can't connect the in-out dots, I believe it will pay off in the big picture. Besides, you can't take it with you (I've checked) and IIRC you don't have heirs so get what you want!User fee! LOL
Hmmm, I thought Ben learned that from you.
That's cheap!... Around here (New England) houses are sold in "bidding wars", so there's no incentive to pay big bucks to add bling. A mobile home on a half acre of land goes for $200K these days. Ridiculous.