I guess here are the basics.
It's a slab of thick leather which does NOT fit your butt. As you ride, you break in the leather. Basically, your sit-bones break down the leather and create dents. Once broken in, the saddle basically has grooves specifically tailored to your behind. Equal support everywhere. If there is a pressure point... then that point is broken in more... get it?
They do NOT get "soft" at all... they simply get shapen to your backside.
Oh yeah, and some say the Brooks breaks YOU in
. I love mine, and will be getting another.
Factors effecting break-in....
weight of rider
rider position (amount of weight on saddle)
road type. (rough road will "beat" the saddle more)
If it gets wet it gets floppy... NOT good. Mine turned to a hammock in a downpour. I pinched it back into position to dry, and laced it add some stiffness for the future. This very well could ruin it if it gets wet again and I put miles on it while wet.
Oh yeah, Brooks are all about opinions. I love my B17n, and if I wasn't a combination of a poor college student, and broke *** mini-trucker, I'd throw down the money for a higher end (and lighter) Brooks saddle.