Ball polishing

I suppose over a long period of time it could. But it would be at least somewhat (maybe fully) offset by the fact you wouldn't have dirty balls being ground down by collisions with each other and rolling over the cloth.

And at least with the ball polisher whatever erosion that takes place would be uniform. I clean my set regularly. If they end up lasting not quite as long, oh well, time to buy a new set. But I theorize they will last longer than dirty balls and certainly the playing experience is worth keeping them clean.