Saddles are such a personal thing I would be very wary of anyone telling you that the Brooks is better than the Rolls, or vice versa. I like Brooks and use them all the time. My first Brooks Professional took about 300 miles to break in, all in one excrutiating long weekend. My second was also a professional which took nearer to 500 miles to break in, despite being pre-softened. After that, they just get better and better. Maintenance is not too onerous, just rub in some Proofide every now and again. I find it easier to apply with my bare fingers, the warmth helps it rub in. My present 15 year old Brooks is sadly starting to rot and won't last much longer. They will normally last longer than this, I have probably neglected the waxing. Most people cover the saddle with a plastic bag if they have to leave a Brooks out in the elements for any length of time, a wise precaution.
The honey saddles look fantastic and attract a lot of casual interest. I always lock mine to my cable lock when I leave the bike parked, as I think it is far more likely to be pinched than my expensive but unattractive wheels. I doubt that any bike theives would get very excited about my tatty Rolls.
One great thing about a nicely polished Brooks is just how slippery they are. They don't offer any resistance to your thighs when pedalling, and are unlikely to chafe your legs. Better stop there, I'm starting to sound like a leather fetishist.
In one of his books, Richard Ballantyne tells the story of two cyclists setting off to go to India together. One had the latest high tech gel saddle, the other an old fashioned Brooks. After the first couple of days both were in a lot of pain, so they swapped saddles. Neither felt uncomfortable for the rest of the trip. No one can tell you which is the saddle for you.
Cheers, Sprocket.
