Is solid wood worth the extra money over MDF or veneer?

Solid wood survives spills, refinishing, and decades of use far better than MDF, which swells permanently if water seeps through the veneer. That said, reddit threads on r/BuyItForLife note that softer solid woods like pine dent easily, so the species matters as much as the 'solid wood' label. If the table is for daily family use, the consensus leans solid hardwood; for a guest-room or starter setup, a well-built MDF table is acceptable.