So no one is confused, 9H that coating companies are using is 9H on the pencil hardness scale, not moh's mineral hardness scale. The hardness of a coating has been blown out of proportion by this industry and it has taken advantage of owner's ignorance. In the beginning(years ago), many professionals were also duped due to their lack of knowledge and marketing. But the industry has advanced and now professionals are aware, or should be, that 9H on the pencil hardness scale is not impressive in the real world.
Are coatings more scratch resistant than traditional waxes and sealants? Yes. But in terms of hardness(a term that defines how scratch resistant a material is, not it's resistance to breaking), coatings do not rate well at all on the moh's hardness scale. The reality is that sand and dirt tend to be more quartz than anything. If you look at the hardness of quartz, you'll find it's a 7 on the moh's hardness scale. Sand/dirt will scratch your coating. Now, take a look at graphite(what pencils are made of) on the moh's hardness scale. -I'll leave that up to you...
With all of that said, coatings are still the best protection short of PPF imho. But you should better understand their benefits as well as the marketing surrounding them.
What can you expect of a coating? Coatings may provide gloss enhancement beyond what polished paint provides, it can provide you with water behavioral properties(hydrophilic/hydrophobic), nano-particle protective properties(not as porous as clear coat for instance) chemical resistance and importantly, provides you with a thick sacrificial layer. What does a sacrificial layer give you? It's a wear and tear layer that can be reapplied almost countless times. This is important because your clear coat is not indefinite. Your clear coat, the top layer of clear paint, is finite and once permanently damaged can be ugly and expensive to improve(likely never to be perfect again). When your coating is damaged, it can be polished down and reapplied. Because coatings, when applied properly, are long wearing, they do provide a level of ease of maintenance. This is not to be confused as being an excuse to neglect your paint or maintenance techniques.
It's easy for detailers to talk negatively about other coatings they do not offer, while talking up the products they happen to carry. You should do your own independent research to see if what you're buying is the real-deal and a good long term fit for you or if you're just being sold something.
Because it was brought up and was wrong, I wish to make note of something. CQuartz Finest is an inorganic coating. The warranty guarantees that it will last for at least 2 years. It will age as anything else in the world...as it is used and maintained. It does not require reapplication in 2 years if properly maintained(which is said of any product). In short, you will get out of it what you put in.