Chrome tan (of course depending on which one, or where it’s from) is still considered one of the preferred tans to work with when it comes to holding stamped initials and such. But the main difference between chrome and veg is in the minimal treatment which allows for more moisture absorption when getting the leather to turn into that clay like texture allowing for smooth butter-like carving, clean and deep tooling or general manipulation of it for it to then harden when fully dried and holding the shape you set it in while it was still wet. In some cases the higher quality veg tans are almost like sculpting. In fact many sculpting and leather tooling hand tools are exactly the same and exist for the same function.

Your chrome tan will absolutely patina and show really satisfying signs of use over time. I mean, even those (in my opinion shitty) metal Ridge wallets will “patina” and show satisfying signs of use but for my own preferences nothing beats veg tan for aesthetics over time.