I have both in my house and I prefer the vinyl. It's warm and the pattern I have doesn't show anything. The laminate shows every foot print! I've also known several people who have had problems with it coming up. Hope this helps your decision making.

I would discuss options with the flooring guy re: his recommendations. They do have plastic mats specifically used for offices and rolling chairs, and they are relatively inexpensive, so that's something to consider as well.

I believe the cushioned vinyl might be more comfortable for you under foot, but you can get a cushioned underlayment installed under plank style floors, also, and that might make them more comfortable and also quieter. Whatever you get, a chair that's used a lot, whether it rolls or just scoots, tends to be hard on flooring. You can buy an office chair mat that is designed to go on a smooth floor, and that's what I'd do to protect it.

As we speak, I'm having a tile floor installed in my quilt room. The tiles look like a wood grain and the Bright Hopes quilt block. Because my floor slab was so out of level, the floor installer suggested this quilt pattern without knowing that it was a quilt block. :)

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I have laminate in my cabin and stick on tiles in my studio. I like both. The sticky tiles were mid range price so not as cushy as the more expensive but so far (3years) have done well even with the rolling office chair in front of my machine. Anyway they were not that expensive and can easily be replaced as I bought extra.

What about laminate flooring made with cork? It looks good, has some cushion, and is water resistant. Check Lumber Liquidators.......

They have ceramic tiles that look like boards and a wood floor. Guess they are very sturdy.

Porcelain tiles (which are stronger than ceramic tiles) that looked wood flooring is what I wanted in my sewing room, but the slab was too out of level for a long tile to work.

I have had both in my home and I like the liminate floors best. It seems they are easier to keep looking nice and are more durable than the vinyl.

I would go with laminate, in a ligh-med shade (doesn't show dust bunnies, or threads). Get the best grade that you can afford and check to make sure its durability. My son bought some laminate made in germany, and even rolling appliances over it didn't mar it. when he cut it with a saw, it was so hard that it sparked. Nine years later, 4 kids, 20 or more dogs (rescues german shepherds), a damp mop brings it back to like new. As a realtor, vinyl is a turn off, and can reduce the "eye value" in a resale.