I'm very definitely in the leather camp - buy a Brooks, and be patient until it's broken in. With that said, two other points already mentioned by previous posters. First - nomatter what you get, get the right size. For me if it's too narrow or wide it's uncomfortable. I like Brooks, the B17 narrow fits me well, the standard B17 is too wide and quite uncomfortable for me. The Professional is my favorite model. Many saddles come in different widths - figure out what's right for you. A good bike shop can help with that. Second, proper positioning is also very important - not just the right height, but how for forward or back on the seat rails, and tilting the nose not too high or low. I've known cyclists who've complained about how uncomfortable the seat is, and you can tell by looking at their bicycle that the seats just "looks wrong". Talk to a good shop or experienced riders and they can help with positioning. As to leather or "plastic" each has their good points and advocates. Ask around (like you're doing on this forum) and you'll get many opinions.