Nothing can beat 300 year old English Oak boarded flooring. That has been wax polished regularly over the years, then walked over by the feet of thousands to give that distressed honey gold patina that cannot be reproduced.
Is it looks vs. functionality time?
I just had my kitchen floor redone in DuraCeramic tile, which I like. It looks and behaves like "normal" tile, except it's very hard to scratch or break, and much cheaper. It's also warm to the touch, so no cold feet in the morning!