Nice work--very clean all around! Did you use a punch for the holes?
Have used the brand for awhile, 1-series and then 2-series. "Releathered" an X2 with H2 leather last year, figuring the higher weight range probably slows stretching. Interestingly, the two leathers are within a couple grams, so not a hit on total weight. No difference in pliability as far as I can tell.
All my SA saddles develop creaks, and it's devilishly tough to track the source. Most commonly at the nose but occasionally from the rear. But they're sooo comfortable and the fore-aft range is pretty vast. Tension slides used to break but the redesign seems to have stopped that.