I have to comment on that La-Z-Boy price.
$ 6,500.00 !! Damned bold of them to ask that much for a piece built the way they do it. That is 100% made in China and I'd wager they don't pay more than $ 900.00 to their manufacturer for it, if that. The complaints from consumers about their quality never stop. I got bored reading after the first page...but of course its hard to see the inside construction when it all looks nice in the showroom. And La-Z-Boy showrooms do present well.
http://www.my3cents.com/companyOverview.cgi?code=172
The Hancock and Moore Sundance sectional is a beauty. They broke new design ground with that model as its more elegant from the back than when viewed from the front. Even my delivery guys - who ignore most furniture - comment how good they look when they put one in a customer's home and float it in a room setting.
Wearability is more a function of maintenance and keeping it out of direct sunlight moreso than leather selection. You have to clean the leather to make it last. And that goes for anyone's leather, not just H&M. Regular maintenance removed the oils and dirt, and the hide will go and go and go if you do that. Ignore it, and your leather will crack in eight to ten years, and split apart in twelve. Mostly you select the leather based on color, feel, look, texture, aroma, and your budget. Remember these pieces will last for 30 + years if given regular cleaning/conditioning cycles and not bleached out by the sun. I've many a customer regret buying the inexpensive leathers but at the time it seemed to make more financial sense, and have NEVER had the first customer tell me they regretted buying a premium leather and wished they had saved the money by going downmarket in grade. At the end of the day, however - only you can determine what is financially comfortable in selecting a cover as the price does vary quite a bit. Its not a good thing to over-extend in the dollar category to where the purchase is uncomfortable.
Columbia is an excellent value hide from South America. Its the ONLY grade 1 leather I recommend. But as you note, it has a corrected look to it and when put in company of the other leathers its easy to see its not the same as the upper tier leather.
Garfield from Italy is superb. I like this hide a lot. It has wild color swings in the dye lot variances and sheens as well. Lots of natural markings and they've done a translucent effect to the topcoat of this leather where it has more color depth than most any other leather in the line. You can actually see down into the color on this one, if that makes any sense. Because of the noticeable variances in color and sheen on this leather, its one that you should request a Cutting For Approval on provided you're not in a hurry to get your piece. CFA's add about 4 weeks to the build process.
Atticus is a South American natural leather. Great look, nice sheen. Another one I recommend. Has a light pull-up effect. Put your nose to this leather, however. South American hides can smell a little 'oily' and make sure you don't object to the aroma of the leather. A sectional uses a lot of hides and the leather aroma will be all about the room.
Kipling is Italian/Chinese and for many years was my all-time favorite in GR 2 leather. I have this on my recliner at home. Its a nice balance of protection/color/natural markings and price. It will get small crinkle hairline marks in it as it ages.
Terra French Luggage Burnished is so much fun. What a great look. A new leather from H&M, its hand-glazed after the piece is built. Good and tough, it will have a little bit of a 'hard' surface feel at first from the glazing, but that will soften with use. This would probably make up the most handsome of all the leathers mentioned.
Imperial Whiskey Burnished and Weston Cane Burnished are also excellent, with the Weston a little more subdued with tones and Imperial getting a tad more colorburst of golden amber. Like all burnished leathers, its a leap of faith to see what you get when the piece arrives. They are not for someone who has to have absolute accuracy in a color swatch beforehand.
If you feel like blowing the kid's college education fund, look at Capri Butternut. Its a GR IV, and would make the most luxurious, sumptuous and inviting Sundance that you can possibly imagine. In those color tones, that's the one to beat.
Hope that helps!