I bought my first new car about a month ago. I found out car manufacturers basicaly put only 1 or 2 coats of paint on cars these days, so that if you even look at the car wrong, it will scratch and you’ll have to take it in for touch up.
So I’m gonna do that, but then also shell out for PPF on the doors, fenders, and hood. When I shouldn’t have to, and never worried about on my older cars.
As someone with experience on a paint line for a major (and well respected) car brand, the coatings are not as fragile as you seem to think. A lot of work goes into designing these things so that they still have high durability despite applying fewer layers than we would have in the past. As long as you aren’t driving like a bumper car you should be fine, but if you’re worried about other idiots then PPF is still a good option.