system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: Why are granite countertops such a big deal?

I keep seeing granite countertops listed on real-estate listings, home improvement/remodeling project ads, etc.  Why is this particular amenity so popular and considered such a plus?  What are the alternatives and why are they inferior (at least, inferior enough not to be explicitly mentioned like granite countertops are)?
gpt
they're considered a luxury over the cheap plastic counter tops.  they're much more attractive and durable than plastic counter tops.  

and "solid" granite (or other natural stone, like marble, quartz, etc) countertops are extremely expensive.  but a lot of the times the "granite" counter top is just a thin layering on top with the bottom part just wood or other material, kind of like how jewelry has the "gold-plated" variety vs the "solid" gold variety.