Is hardwood flooring good for the living room with heavy traffic?

Hardwood flooring that is very hard will hold up to heavy traffic. Some exotic woods are very hard as is strand bamboo. Acrylic impregnated flooring is very hard, too. What protects the flooring from the atmosphere and dirt is the finish. There are different types of finish, all of which are susceptible to wearing off, eventually. Once the flooring is flat and smooth the finish keeps it that way.

how about PVC?