It really comes down to how the skin's finish responds to wear. Some budget AWPs get ugly, jagged scratches right on the scope as float goes up, while others just get slightly darker while keeping the artwork completely intact. I was debating between paying double for a Factory New or saving cash on a Field-Tested, so I checked out
https://doms2cents.com/the-best-awp-skins-under-20-in-2024/ to see how float values alter different budget finishes. It turns out skins like the AWP Mortis use a patina finish, meaning you can grab a Field-Tested version for cheap and it still looks totally scratchless in-game.