+1 to the thought that you should break down and get a Brooks. They are kind of hard to begin with, but softness is not everything.

There are two main things that make Brooks' special: 1) that they allow your nether regions to get air. Leather just breathes better than vinyl or plastic. 2) When Brooks' are broken-in, they act like a little hammock for your perineal area.

A good amount of the discomfort is avoidable too, if you get one of the sprung models. Actually, they're just as hard, but the bumps don't hit you as hard, because the springs dampen the shock. Most folks here are not open-minded enough to try a sprung Brooks, but I highly recommend them. Is the added weight of the springs REALLY going to make or break you?

I have a B67 on my TriCross. I'm thinking of buying another one for my new Schwinn.

If you're really against spending the money on a Brooks, I think you need to consider the two main causes of saddle discomfort: a) Perineal pressure, which can be alleviated with saddle cut-outs, and b) breathability, which you could probably alleviate with a sheepskin cover. Yep, it sounds weird and doesn't look sporty, but it has been working for motorcyclists for decades. My local shop has some.