Screened-in Covered Porch Stain OR Deck Paint?

I have a Screened-in Covered Porch with a deck that is about 1.5 years old. It is a new house.

First objective is durability, longest lasting solution.
Second objective, aesthetics/color (light sand/wood color).

I live in Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina. Like most, I am looking for a product that will provide the best protection/durability for my area with a color similar to a light brown/sand color. I do not really care if it is a stain or paint or other. I want to make the deck last as long as possible with as little maintenance/upkeep. (Am I attempting to live in a dream world?)

I saw this product by Sherwin-Williams called Desk and Dock Elastomeric Coating. I do not know much about it. I tend to be suspect of most product claims. My procrastination of maintaining my deck sooner stems from my fear of selecting a bad product and wasting a lot of money.

Side Note: Once the desk boards deteriorate to a non-repair state, I plan to replace it with a patio because the deck is no more than 1 foot to 2 feet from the ground.

BTW, My mom and dad used some kind of deck paint. My dad calls the color "Battleship Gray". It is not a stain. Not sure about the durability, but mom likes the way it cleans up pretty easily.

I hope to hear back from you guys soon.

Sincerely,