Lived in or pristine?

Laid this patio last spring, it looked really nice when all pristine and new, loved the texture and colour of the stones. However took the decision not to cover it in a patio sealant which would have (allegedly) stopped any weather damage and resisted dirt, grease and oil.

So nine months on here's the state of it. Was it the correct decision? Are you a lived in or pristine person? Well the good news is the stones are all still stable, winter (so far) hasn't got through the grouting and buckled them, but the better news is that nature's starting to draw its own patterns over them and adding a further level of texture.

I'm definitely in the lived in camp.