...or are they just a status quo kinda thing?

If they are as good as most say, what makes them so preferable?

Quality? If so, why are they better? Workmanship? Materials?
Leather? Why don't all the major bike companies make leather saddles then?

Seems to me the rivets would be uncomfortable, but I don't know.

Whenever I go to their site to check them out, seems like I'm in an equestrian site. LOL