This is a matter of your butt and your riding style. For many people they are the cat's meow. For some of us, they are torture. I had a Japanese Brookes Pro copy (and a high quality seat) on one bike. When that bike got stolen and I had to settle for a used, beat up Selle Italia made, Peugeot labled seat, I got reminded that the thief did me a favor every time I sat on it. I have always slid forward the the nose of my seats going hard and pushed all the way back for seated power climbing. Both positions put me on rivets and un-padded steel. I can and do ride the entire length of the seats I like.

Ben