Ok, so four months later an update, we decided on the Soapstone, the Countertops are in, just finished with putting up the matching stone switch/oulet covers and the final caulking. Yes, the stone is from South America. Yes it can be scratched very easily but the scratches are rubbed out quickly.
It came down to Absolute Black Granite and the Soapstone, my wife preferred the Soapstone, there you go, will attempt to post pictures at some time, before and after.
All in all am satisfied at this point, we'll see a year or so from now.
/Jeff
