It can, when done properly, look great. Pricing is largely market dependent but be sure to get someone that can show you some good work samples. That have all sorts of systems from epoxies, to acid stain, to polished, that will really set the floor off as an eye catcher.

You can get a sealer and denisfier type product that will prevent the dusting - depending on how much of a sealed look you can also do other sealing coats. I found a great site (garagejournal.com) that has a forum on flooring with lots of ideas - Most there seem to like epoxy floors, but many go for sealers and densifiers... I used a densifier/sealer combo for my large garage floor/shop area to prevent dusting, make it stronger and in the future IF I want to I can burnish it or polish it...So far it is working great, but we have only been Here is a link that might be useful: Garage Fourm Flooring

Here are some progress photos. The room is trimmed out now and primed with BM Silver Cloud. My initial intent was to use that for the ceiling and then Mt Rainier Grey for the walls. Now, with the prime, it looks too cold. So, I'm going one further step down to BM Winter Lake and changing the ceiling color to BM Harbor Fog. With no natural light, it's tricky with these colors. I'll post more photos when we are complete. Any comments/suggestions are welcome!

It depends on many factors. I prefer to do what we call a bonded mud screed or "dry pack" floor most of the time, other times self leveling can work but from what you've mentioned i don't think so. You have to thick of a pour for most all self levelers. and they are tempernmental in cold climates over crete. Share some pics, condition of the slab?