It’s 16 gauge so should be sturdy enough. All stainless steel sinks scratch pretty easily, it does not affect their performance , they still clean easily. Use the bottom grid to minimize scratches. More on reddit.com

I love undermount, sweep crumbs straight into the sink. Needs to be well done to be strong, but still worth it. More on reddit.com

I wouldn't explicitly say that one is "always better" because no matter what type of mount your sink is it will still serve it's purpose. Both sink types have a caulk around the edges that requires maintenance once in a great while to prevent leaks. I think both have equal opportunities for mold growth around the edges. It may be easier to see if the edge of an over-mount sink needs cleaned verses an under-mount. I prefer under-mount sinks because it's easier to clean the counter around it since you don't have a lip to push debris over. Under-mount also looks cleaner and more modern (but not in a trendy modern way). If you're doing a new kitchen with some sort of stone or stone-imitation counter then you should get an under-mount sink. I don't know if you can do under-mount with laminate counters. More on reddit.com

I have never heard of that. It is a sink... filling a sink is their intended purpose. If silicone can't hold for that, it is not fit for the intended purpose and was installed improperly. Doesn't matter if that is common practice to cut corners. It is like saying you shouldn't fill a bathtub with water. Or jump on your floor. Or fill your cabinets. More on reddit.com