While I suspect the satin finish might make smudges less noticeable, I chose polished chrome handles and knobs when we remodeled our kitchen (white cabinets) and master bath (deep, warm brown cabinets). (Elongated bin pulls and oval knobs.) They clean very easily with a wipe of a towel, or if really grimy, Pledge Multi-Surface wipes makes it easy to clean with no residue.

Another reason to go for polished chrome is the timelessness of the finish - it never seems to go out of style, unlike brushed chrome which appears to be falling out of favor currently. (Of course, these things always go in cycles, and in the end you should always pick the things that make you happy!)

There is definitely less maintenance required for brushed as opposed to shiny finishes. Go to your local big box and check for yourself. If you're finicky and don't have a housekeeper or two, I'd recommend brushed.

I just ordered Brushed Nickle and I love the look! Chrome is to shiney for me and I would dislike having it be the focal point in any room.