Small wear & tear is no issue with me, but when it gets to be an eyesore over time or a deep ding whizzes you off every time you see it (it happens), steaming out deeper scratches & dings is easy with an iron & a wet cotton cloth. Touch up afterwards with very mild abrasive (steel wool) & spot treat with linseed oil or an appropriate stain. This works with oil finished stocks, not bowling pin finishes, which I don't own anyway. A Brownells checkering kit makes touching up checkering a breeze. Gunstock Wax does a good job of protecting it & making it glow. A good analogy is would you rather have a Plain Jane but functional girlfriend with zero maintenance or a Gorgeous one you have to treat better & give some TLC now & then???