I'm a concrete contractor and I talk to lots of people out estimating and considering work for my business. Often people think stamped concrete is totally different than regular concrete and it's really an entirely different product. That is somewhat true, but the basics of the two are the same plus they are usually specified exactly the same, when used in the same application. For instance, if stamped concrete or regular concrete is used for a driveway, they'll generally be the same thickness and have exactly the same design strength.
Regular concrete is your everyday concrete found in sidewalks, driveways, patios, roads, and anytime regular pavement is constructed. It's generally positioned on some type of gravel or native soil base that's compacted. The region is then formed with lumber or manufactured forms. Reinforcement is usually installed in the bottom which is usually rebar or wire mesh. The concrete is specified to a desired thickness which is created for its application. For instance, a driveway that handles car and light trucks is normally poured four inches thick. The concrete mix is also specified which is usually a 4000 psi mix here in areas which have severe winters. That is the strength the concrete reaches in 28 days. Concrete is positioned, striked off, bull floated then gets a non slip finish, such as a broom. After that, the concrete is cured with either water and burlap, or the simple way with a membrane forming curing compound.
Stamped concrete is quite similarly placed to regular concrete. Generally all the steps will be the same except the finishing steps. The concrete can be colored that is usually put into the mix. It can also be colored with a color hardener, but most contractors use an integral color. After bull floating is when things the process changes with stamped concrete. concrete driveway go one step further and trowel the concrete to find the concrete really smooth. We use air entrained concrete in our area due to harsh winters, which isn't said to be troweled so we usually just get it smooth as you possibly can with a magnesium bull float. After the concrete sets to a desired hardness, the concrete is imprinted with the rubber like stamps. A release agent which is an antiquing colored release, or liquid release agent is used to help keep the stamps from sticking with the concrete. Some contractors will put curing paper on the concrete to cure it till the next day when the concrete will be washed and sealed with a high gloss sealer that is also a membrane forming cure.
So in summary stamped and regular, there is not much difference between your two other than what they appear to be on the surface. Lots of people they think stamped concrete is just not as durable as regular concrete and that is just not the case. The only thing that could ensure it is less durable may be the texture of the stamped concrete. In an environment that gets snow, stamped concrete can get damaged by snow removal equipment like snow plows.