Ok so every house I have lived in with hardwood floors - the floor by the front door takes a lot of abuse and you want to be careful about what to put on the wood to protect it. Short of pulling out wood and having a tile section................what kind of mat do folks use that does not scratch up or react with today's finishes?

I presume your hardwood floor is already varnished or finished in some other way? What's wrong with an ordinary bristle doormat? Wood floors do gradually accumulate scuffs and signs of wear and tear especially in areas of heavy usage. In Nordic countries where most homes have wood floors there is often a shoes off policy in the home, this could help?

Choosing Wood Floors (http://www.jgpwoodfloors.com)