My dad, a career Marine, described war as "eating cold rations out of a can while watching a fly crawl around inside the skull of your best friend."

Yes.

I served in the Corps from January 1965 through January 1974.
Figure it out.

Anyway, I had a personal moral crisis, and returned to civilian life.

I also became a vegetarian.

I just didn't want to look at bloody meat anymore.

So, for quite a few years, I not only avoided meat, I had no animal skin possessions.

Eventually, though, I drifted back into meat and leather, until, in my present work, I had a series of prehospital (meaning, at the scene of the accident) exposures to people suffering horrific, nightmarish burns.

Because of the repeated, intense exposure to the smell of burning human flesh, I developed a "phantom smell" (I showered and changed my clothes frequently because of "the smell"), and a nauseating aversion to cooked meat.
For an entire year, my whole family went vegetarian because I could not handle the smell of meat in the house.

Now I enjoy a good steak once or twice a year, but sometimes a year goes by without a steak.

So, when I decided to try out a Brooks saddle, the leather thing came to mind.

I had to make a choice, and I chose to give leather a try.

In all honesty, the leather thing continues to nag at me, and detracts from my riding experience on occasion.

As I sit here at my computer now, I happen to have my old Selle San Marco Ti Aspide Arrowhead saddle next to my keyboard.
I intend to put it back on my Pista, because of the leather thing.

I ride my Ice Bike with a Brooks because I have to ride it, and, so far, nothing works like the Brooks on my Ice Bike.

However, I ride my Pista not because I have to ride it (although I DO have to ride it), but for the sheer joy it brings me; and, I do not want a leather saddle coming between me and my joy.