It's not my intention to contradict or debate you. But, your reasoning is slightly flawed.
First, we use the term permanent like OEM paint is permanent; meaning that Opti Coat will not simply wear away, would have to be removed abrasively (like paint). Actually, because paint oxidizes and Opti Coat won't, it's actually more "permanent" than factory coats. We don't use the term to mean it will still be intact after a cataclysmic event. I wish we had used a more descriptive term initially because the word permanent's semantics have proven to be a point of contention. Opti Coat is permanent like paint is permanent.
My second point is also one of semantics. Not everything that has coating in the description is an actual coating. Waxes, sealants, and the plethora of glass coatings (Silicon Oxide) coat (cover) the car, but not like paint coats. Opti Coat (Silicon Carbide) works by bonding to your factory clear coating and becoming a permanent (see above) part of your vehicles paint system. Just like the clear coat bonds to the base coat, Opti-Coat bonds chemically to the clear coat. Waxes, sealants, and glass coatings "bond" too, but not the same type of bond that paint systems do. Opti Coat is a coating like paint is a coating;Opti Coat bonds like paint bonds.
Lastly, carmakers sell cars and have no interest of providing you with the best technology. Modern clears will look pretty good for a few years and then will oxidize and damage quite easily... Just in time for you to let a newer model catch your eye. If you trade or lease often, I probably wouldn't bother with a coating. But, most of us hear take pride in ownership and want to remove as little paint as necessary to maintain that new car look.
As for real world driving, chips may occurs but damage from rain and wind is not going to happen. Most of the reason we see "normal" wear and tear on a vehicle is due to inferior protection and extended maintenance. Cars are not waxed or sealed often enough and those types of protection begin to fade from the moment they are applied. Not many take the time to re apply protection after exposure to acids (bird droppings) or alkaline (APC, wheel cleaners) so the paint is virtually unprotected. The small grit that could be thwarted by a slick, hydrophobic surface stick and need pressure to release.
Opti-Coat is completely resistant to acidic environmental substances such as bird droppings. Unlike your factory clear coating that can be permanently damaged, Opti-Coat will not etch or dissolve when in contact with these substances, and a clean, glossy clear coating is maintained. Opti-Coat will provide the owner with a permanent hydrophobic surface that is easier to clean, and stays cleaner for longer!
You are right about forming a sacrificial barrier, but Opti Coat is much more. Being up to 100 times thicker than wax allows Opti-Coat to effectively absorb damage that would otherwise affect the factory paint layers. Swirl marks and light scratches are not only decreased by the harder Optimum Ceramic Coating, the factory paint is protected and preserved.
Opti Coat is the real deal. We have been testing since 2007 and on the market since 2010. The pro version carries an optional lifetime warranty against failure and thousands of testimonies will confirm that after months and years Opti Coat is still going strong.
I partially agree. Opti Coat is not for everyone, but it is for everyone who likes to keep a little money in their wallet. For DIY Opti Coat 2.0 is only $35 per application (10cc per car-20cc/$70). If it only lasted a year, that's cheaper than the 4+ applications of a lesser product while saving you the time to install them as well.
Those who use pro detailers to maintain their cars will spend at least $50 or more per application of wax 2-4 times per year. The average Opti Coat Pro application is $300 or less (non warrantied) and will last well over the 2-3 year mark you suggested. 3 years @ 2 wax/year = $300 for inferior protection. 3 years @ 4 wax/year is $600 for inferior protection. This is not even considering the etching and damage that Opti Coat will prevent in aesthetics...and anyone who trades that often knows how much more you get when selling or trading in a used vehicle. The difference between good and excellent is thousands.
I'm sorry for the book. Thank you to those who read it all. :dblthumb2: