Faux v. Real...Flowers

One of my favorite activities is to go to Field of Flowers and come home and create arrangements all over my apartment. Unfortunately, about six months ago I had to give up this past time due to the cost. I would spend between $20-$40 per week on the flowers (roses, hydrangeas, and peonies are my favorite) and when it came down to it that money could be better spent elsewhere. I was a little sad at first and I missed my Saturday morning hobby.
That was until I was at Michael's craft store and discovered that they had some of the most gorgeous fabric flowers! I'll admit that the cost up front for the better flowers was more than purchasing real ones, but they never die and often they are 40%-50% off each week. I started with some fall colored hydrangeas in creams and deeper blues and made an arrangement for my dining room/entry table. I filled the bottom of the cylinder with shined pebbles and even water - they look real!
However, my newest obsession is with the tall cylinder vases with a single white orchid inside...faux orchid of course. Using the pebbles and water technique that I used for the hydrangea arrangement and a white orchid from Pier 1 Imports I've made a beautiful and simple arrangement for the bathrooms.
In closing, aside from the beautiful aroma of the fresh flowers and the fact that they do not need dusted - I've fallen in love with my fake flowers...What do you think, faux or real? Which is better?