As one whose kitchen countertops are polished red granite (rather like Aswan granite, but, alas, not from Aswan), I suggest looking once again at the list you have kindly provided, particularly the pretty sparkly stuff -- largely silvery flecks in my case. Add to this that it can accept, without much protection, having a wide range of hot and cold objects put on it, that it is, if properly sealed (a simple once-a-year job) largely impervious to grease and oil, spices, etc., does not easily scratch or discolor. Moreover, it is not prohibitively more expensive than other, less desirable surfaces, and can be cheaper then some of the man-made materials. Having had the stuff in place for about a year and a half, I can say that it really does have a number of genuine advantages over other countertop surfaces I have had previously, which include linoleum, formica, and tile. For my money, tile is next best, but is more difficult to keep clean, not because of the tile itself but because of the grout.

Lee