An update to the 2015 leader 725 frameset I received: Alex from Leader bikes has told me that both the inch long scratch on the fork (that I can run my finger over and feel an obvious skip/crevice) and the craters/pinholes on the frame are purely cosmetic; they will not be replacing any parts. The best they can do is have me pay for return s/h and refund me. To be fair, the head badge is also falling off, and they have sent me a new one to replace it.

Overall, I'm pretty dissatisfied. No leader frame I had before had those holes in the bb shell, brake bridge, and down tube/head tube connection area (found a new one there..) and it bums me out to know I paid for a new frame that has those things. I respect their decision, but begrudgingly so. Just wanted to fulfill my update on the situation.

Edit: I should also add that I spent over an hour trying to fish out a foreign object out of the seatstay through the tiny vent holes. Every time I moved the frame it would make a sound. Turns out it was a piece of welding that came loose and was rattling in there.