I guess the plank form factor is because wood has grain which runs lengthwise in a direction and lends itself to planks. I doubt you could ever get planks to line up and look like stone, or tiles to line up and look like wood for that matter. Tiles and stone might work, but there may be some industry thing about avoiding the look of the older asbestos tiles.
planks make installation easier too. big squares would be awkward. small squares would be more tedious. other shapes would not interlock like a straight line. Also, seems can be nearly invisible in a quality locking material.
I guess the plank form factor is because wood has grain which runs lengthwise in a direction and lends itself to planks. I doubt you could ever get planks to line up and look like stone, or tiles to line up and look like wood for that matter. Tiles and stone might work, but there may be some industry thing about avoiding the look of the older asbestos tiles.
planks make installation easier too. big squares would be awkward. small squares would be more tedious. other shapes would not interlock like a straight line. Also, seems can be nearly invisible in a quality locking material.