Is Stainless Steel the "Perfect" Sink Material?

On the face of it, it's strange that stainless steel isn't a more popular material for sinks. Its main selling point is its stainless-ness, I suppose. But here are the 7 reasons you may want to consider holding off of installing a stainless steel sink in anything but a laundry or utility room of your house:

1. Not truly stainless. It most certainly can stain. Even rust marks end up on the surface. It should be noted, though that the rust isn't part of the metal; it's a deposit on on top of the metal. So, it's more rust-less than stainless.
2. Bouncy, "hollow" feeling of the sink, as most stainless steel sinks are made of thin metal.
3. Pitting and scratching a real problem.
4. Hard water deposits can easily build up on the bottom of the sink. Requires constant care and "babying."
5. Some chemicals can wreak havoc with the stainless steel.
6. If you happen to scour "against the grain" (say, with a scouring pad, powder, or steel wool), it is very difficult to remove that cross-hatching pattern.

On the other hand, stainless steel sinks are fairly inexpensive, easy to transport, and simple to install.