a diamond for the rough...

Way on down the list. Wait, wait, not even on the list.

No

You could always get a piece of diamond plate and install it yourself if you want it bad enough.

No! I have diamond plate on the front lower portion of my trailer. I still get rock impacts 2 feet above it! so unless half of the front of the trailer is covered in diamond plate you will always get some kind of damage.

I have now pulled my trailer over 4000 miles since getting it, with about 100 miles on gravel roads. Not a single pit or scar on the trailer- but my truck shows a couple of nicks. You can buy sheets of metal diamond-plate at online RV parts stores, and install it yourself if you need it. I was going to if there was any damage showing after some of these trips, now I realize I don't even need it.
It looks nice though.

I prefer to have it but it's not a deal breaker by any means.

I have never even considered diamond plating. I have noticed it on a few other trailers, though, because from what I have seen it is rare, so it stands out.

Not a concern for me. Most trailers are not plated.

Ours is an aluminum sided trailer and DOES have diamond plate on the lower part up front. Funny, because I have a bunch of dents in the aluminum above the diamond plate from large bugs, road debris, etc. I'm not even sure I would consider it as a factor in a purchasing decision.

Most of the "diamond plate" they use on trailers is so thin it's about worthless..

B.O.