Follow up after 2 record cold Michigan winters

After two winters there is no sign of any mold, peeling, wood cracking, or wear anywhere. These were two of the coldest/snowiest winters on record in Michigan.  Carpenter bees had no problem chomping on the new siding with a few new holes that needed attention, but that is no worse than any other year.  The finish still looks fresh. Feels firm to touch, but looks freshly applied. Then grain of the cedar still shows through beautifully and is plainly seen from the street. I've had a lot of compliments from neighbors and passers-by.  By comparison, a section on the back of the house stained with a waterbased Sherwin-Williams stain on stripped bare cedar 6 years ago started showing some color fading and black mold within a few years, and very little of the wood grain, knots, and color variations are visible through the stain.