Well, a real stone countertop is probably more functional than formica because it won&#x27;t age as quickly and thus lasts longer.  I&#x27;m not sure if the increased cost justifies that.<p>When I hear &quot;granite kitchen counter crowd&quot;, I think of people who spend a lot of money on their house to have nice things, either because they genuinely like the aesthetic or they want to keep up with and show off to the Joneses.