Artrestore

My primary business is remodeling and restoring old houses in Seattle WA.for the last 18 years. I have built ten or more decks using Trex, several with Ipe and two with cedar decking. The only one I have ever replaced is the cedar deck. (No it wasn't maintained properly and the customer requested cheap material)
I agree totally with the comment that synthetic decking shouldn't try to be, or look like, wood. My experience with Trex has only been good (except one bad lot that the manufacturer made good on).
My take on deck design is that the practicality of the decking material outweighs the looks of high maintenance wood, and that the design and materials in the railing are far more important to the overall appearance of the deck. I have built some beautiful clear cedar craftsman railings on Trex decks and the comments are always about the railings (without slivers in their feet).
Water proof decks are a whole different category.