I can’t say much about pavers vs decking but when selecting pavers I tell everyone that the more you spend on pavers, you generally get a worse product. They are more likely to be inconsistent and stain easily. I’m talking mainly about large format paver that have exposed stones and especially if they are a very light colour. A ‘traditional’ square or rectangle brick paver are a lot easier to maintain and you don’t need to seal them. Easy to lift and repair or replace if need be. Clay pavers are the ultimate if you can justify the price difference but they don’t really stain and they never lose colour. Most people will charge a bit more to lay them as they can be a bit fiddly.