Yeah,
what will work for you is anybody's guess. The B17 Champion Special is one of the most comfortable saddles ever made. It is the only saddle that seemed to disappear.
I think that salesman was lying to you. Leather gives, numbness is a problem you get with hard saddles. If he had one of the narrow Brooks saddles that would be different. But based on what he said, I don't think he was telling you the truth. Some people give up and return them before they break in. That's how I got my first one. So some shops don't want the hassle. This is my 2nd Brooks. But the saddle is designed for touring and casual riders. If you have an aggresive riding position; it prob won't work for you. My other saddle is a Selle Italia Trans Am XLP.
It has a shock absorber built into it. I like it a lot. The Brooks will be more comfy once I get it broke in. But the Trans Am really soaks up the bumps. The Trans Am is also half the price. I like them both. On my commuter that I ride most days I want the comfort. But on my speedy bike I need the shock absorbers.