I love this coffee table..Definitely sturdy and I love how I can still see my couch.  I have tried other tables that are higher and seem to overpower the space.  This is not too low as one might be thinking.  It is just right.  The metal is very nice and yes of course it will get scratched.  I am still playing around with the idea of getting a piece of glass to cover the top...but then I will have to clean it constantly.  So I think I will just let it get scratched and be the norm for this table.  It is too cool a table to let that concern me.