For engineered flooring, either wood or PVC beading will technically do the job — the main thing is that you maintain the correct expansion gap and don’t pin the floor down.
Personally, in a living area, I’d lean towards timber beading rather than PVC.
PVC can work, but once painted it doesn’t always blend perfectly with existing skirting. The finish can look slightly different, especially in natural light. Over time, painted PVC can also scuff or chip in a way that’s harder to touch up neatly.
Timber beading tends to look more in keeping with traditional skirting. It paints up better, takes knocks more naturally, and just feels a bit more solid. As long as it’s fixed to the skirting (not the floor), it won’t restrict movement.
PVC is more useful in bathrooms or utility areas where moisture is a concern, but in normal living spaces there’s no real advantage.
So in short, both are fine functionally, but wood usually wins on appearance in a dry area.