I'm a Bead Rider guy, at least in the summer. No, wooden beads are not soft, but if you put them on a cushioned seat, they sink into the seat and have the exact same amount of give as you get without it. Put them on a concrete bench and I suppose they'd dig into your ass pretty bad. I don't feel any kind of cooling breeze blowing under me with it, but my butt doesn't get all sweaty and hot like it does sitting on the leather seat.
I like how I can slide around on it, helps me move on the seat in corners, and it actually does have kind of a massaging effect. Not hot when you first sit down if you leave the bike in the sun for a while either. Yes, it dimples the leather seat some. Did on my stock seat and does on my Bill Mayer leather saddle too, but the dimples go away a little while after you take it off again. Just don't try it for a day or two or just a few miles--or hours and then give up on it. I decided I really liked mine about four days into the first long ride I took with it, and I've never changed my mind about it since.
