That's usually worked for me (I have used proofhide to the same effect as well). When it hasn't worked, I've just sprayed silicone lubricant around metal contact points and that works too.

Not that I can tell. Cornstarch floats away easily.

I ride Books B-17 on all 3 of my touring bikes. The oldest has over 12,000 miles on it. People either love or hate them. I'm the former. My wife rode the women's version for over 600 miles and suffered every minute she was on it. She sent it back to Rivendell mid-tour.

It takes maybe 1000 miles to fully break in a B-17, though my 2 newer ones cost extra because they were partially broken in and got pretty comfortable in maybe 1/3 as many miles. You certainly don't want to take a brand new one on an extended tour, especially if you aren't sure it's right for you.

You don't really need springs. It's high quality tensioned leather. "Breaking in" means the weight of your body sitting on it shapes the leather to your sit bones, like repeatedly catching a baseball shapes a glove to your hand. After 100 miles or so, the saddle fits your butt like a glove, giving where it should and supporting firmly where it needs to. The design hasn't changed in a century because it works. But as I said, some people love them, some hate them. Find out which group you are in before taking one on an extended tour.

Good on the easy cleanup.
Cheers

BEWARE, Brooks saddle B17 is NOT ok with Suntour suspension seat post, you cannot move back or forward the saddle !

a son of a ***** in switzerland, most famous shop in geneva sold and installed it on my bike ... and on a 200 km tour, I tried to move the saddle ... and find out on the web it was not compatible !!!
a real ass hole this shop ! do you want the name of it ?

dear all, what about the THUDBUSTER with B17 is it ok ?

Yes. We have three bikes with Thudbuster posts and B17 saddles, and all work satisfactorily.

As to the rest of your post, I and probably a few others don't understand your aggression.

Brooks saddles are well known for having rails that don't enable them to be moved as far back on a seat post clamp as other saddles. Most people who are aware of this issue and want it further back used a seat post with more setback on it.

If you had bought an expensive saddle and seatpost from a high quality shop only to find out that the combination was an unhappy one that didn't work well, you'd probably get mad as well.

Yes, and I would take it up with the bike shop, rather than come here and resurrect various threads on Brooks saddles to broadcast to all the world my dissatisfaction... with the bike shop.

This I would agree to. Or if you feel you must post it here, please post in the following subsection: Manufacturer, Retailer, Survey and Consumer Feedback