Engineered Hardwood - Is this normal?

[Colin Smith]

I recently installed engineered hardwood into a home so I can have "wood" flooring on the main level at almost half the cost of actual hardwood flooring. I am starting to regret this decision as this engineered hardwood flooring is so cheap and brittle it was clearly not worth it. Something as small as dropping your phone puts a dent in it, the edges will splinter, catch on your socks and rip off, and it takes next to nothing to put a scratch in it. 

Is this normal for engineered hardwood flooring? Do I need to put a top coat of something on there to protect them?

What has been your experience with these types of floors?

[Frank Woodin]

With engineered hardwood it is usually you pay for what you get.  The flooring that I have put down that was engineered hardwood in the past was not cheap but it is a great product because it withstands humidity much better than just solid hardwood floors.  I would venture a guess that your flooring was cheap because it's not that durable.  What material is the top wood?