Sheldon knows his stuff for the most part, but when it comes to saddles, he has a priority that may differ from most people's: he wants it to break in fast, and he's willing to shorten its life to do it. Soaking in oil significantly softens the leather, which will make it more comfortable in the short term, but in the long term, it will sag more and wear out faster.

Particularly for commuting duty, the break in period isn't a big deal. Even when my B17 was new, it took about 25 km before I'd notice any discomfort.