I have 2 Brooks Pro saddles with standard unhammered rivets and don't notice them at all. You don't really sit on the rivets, anyway, although they might chafe on some fabrics since they are not completely flush.

On my Team Pro I can feel the second and fifth rivets. Not a huge deal but it bugs me a little at times.

I got some nasty saddle sores from the big brass rivets on my Pro. The edges of two of the rivets were a little proud of the surface of the leather once it had broken in. I bashed 'em with the side of a socket wrench 'till they were flush, 'cause that's how you treat a limited-edition saddle when it makes your skin chafe while in the middle of India.

They actually still look great, even after bashing.

Get a bottle of Neatsfoot Oil (leather conditioner used for baseball gloves, etc). It's cheaper than any saddle-specific foppery, but works great. Flip the saddle upside down and wrap it in tinfoil, then fill the foil up w/ oil. Let that thing soak for several hours, if it can come back, it will.

If you have a Wilson's leather store in your local mall they sell bottles of leather conditioner, it’s always worked great on my leather jackets. Or just get any good quality leather conditioner. Leather is leather, Brooks isn't special.