re: Question about hardwood floors (Long)

In my experience, most people are going to just replace whatever cheap solution you make. (For example why rip up carpet to put down .20/sf laminate wood?)

Oak is such a pretty wood, but its damn expensive. From a woodworking perspective, dissimilar woods take stain completely differently and will reflect different character. Oak is such a unique wood. They may match in color, but I'd tend to agree with you that there will be a distinctive difference in appearance between the two. The perpendicular directions may help the transition, but there will be no mistaking the two.

If you insist on uniformity, you'd be better off going all pine and staining. Oak is pretty, but its just so expensive. Just my $.02