If you want some real stuff minus the marketing BS, you should look further.
Like niakulah suggest, bridle/harness belt is something you should seriously consider. I've got mine from MD at sub RM250 including delivery. It will still getting scratches here and there but can be polished away if you like, the built of the hardware and leather suggested that it will last forever, even possible to pass down to grandchildren. Ok, maybe I have exaggerated it.

https://www.massdrop.com/buy/dont-mourn-organize-bridle-belt

They so to call genuine leather are bonded leather, where cracking and peeling will be obvious after several use. Once you go to the real leather, you will never look back. Consider that an investment, rather than a consumable products.

I think you choose the design for the buckle and the strap length. I have tried this, and its bonded leather, flaking after 2-3 years of uses, which is ok considered the money paid.

I would disagree on your statement on style. Men's style, precisely classic style will never go out of time, eventually better over the time. Should you have invest a good style item, in this case a belt, which will last your life time, the average cost of usage has greatly reduced. On my statement of items gets better overtime, patina would developed and given a distinctive identify which that item is so unique that you belonged, tells a story. Of course there are people also like their item to be pristine, that they would spend time, money and love to maintain it.

Sadly to say bonded leather are also branded as genuine leather. Because its a made of real scrap leather and glued them together using polymer. How to differentiate if, i think you can google up "bonded leather belt flakes".