Tom Kunich wrote:

I unapologetically bash Brooks or any other leather saddle. There
is a reason beyond weight that no racer uses them.

Then what's the reason that so very many racers used to use them?

I have owned quite a few sprung Brooks and Lepper leather saddles over the years; I have none in service at the moment. I liked them when I used them..

For reasons of cost, weather resistance, clamp compatibility, maintenance, and noise, I have switched to rubber sprung plastic saddles. I don't have any regrets about that. But at the same time, I don't think it's a mistake to use leather saddles if their trade-offs aren't a deterrent.