First, it depends on what level of finish you want to maintain but I'll try to speak generally on my opinion of the answer.
If you correctly wash and dry your vehicle and don't scratch it with anything more than occasional random very light micro marring of a towel then you can use poliseal and a foam finishing pad to amp up the gloss (remove that very light micro-marring) every year or so or as you feel it's needed. When you do this the important thing (and the point of the product if you listen to Dr. Davids reason for the invention of the product) is that you ARE NOT REMOVING CLEAR COAT. Eventually (depending on how often you polish, but if well taken care of it would take a very long time) you could polish through the layer of opti-coat and at that point you could add another layer of Opti-coat.
Corey: I'm really am looking for advise/guidance!!!
This is the causation of my confusion, or perhaps misunderstanding, of Opti-Gard/Opti-Coat (and maybe other "Coatings").
It has been stated that: The Opti-Coatings, when properly applied, are supppose to/will "etch", or, assimilating, as it were, into the paint's top-coat (the clearcoat); will properly cure within the allotted/recommended time frame through: cross-linking; will be a permanent coating similar to, but "harder" than paint clearcoat; that hardness will be (with a stated Moh's hardness) approaching 9H (corundum/emery) when cured; and nothing is supposed to remove said Coatings, save compounding with abrasives (a few others like paint thinners? have been mentioned, if I'm not mistaken, also).
Therefore, IMHO, if all of the above is factual, then micro-marring from: washing, drying, and even driving a vehicle [and what that entails (environmental issues)] should be a thing of the past. (I understand that incurring things like rock chips can happen).
But, it seems, that in real-world vehicle usage this is not so factual. As evidenced, micro-marring, swirls, and scratches do occur. Therefore the advise that is given: One is cautioned to use due diligence in their cleaning cycles; and, to "refresh" the Opti-Coatings (gloss-up, remove micro-marring, etc.) Poli-Seal may be used. ( Poli-Seal must be bada$$, then!

). Also, when one has polished/abraded through the Opti-Coatings, another application can be applied. My question: Since these coatings "etch" (assimilate) the clearcoat paint, how does one actually know where the Coatings end and the clearcoat begins? IMHO, without taking paint thickness readings before the Coating's application, and without doing more paint thickness readings at regular intervals, I don't see how it would be possible.
If you, {or others, such as, (Dr. G, Chris@Optimum)} would, please explain for me:
How can these stark contrasts so co-exist?
Note: I'm not getting any younger; it's not as easy as it once was to 'detail' vehicles; and I'd like to have more of a "life" than continually going around and around and getting up and down to 'detail' said vehicles. As such, these coatings sound and look tempting.
Thanks in advance for your assistance.
Bob