I agree that in theory traditional should be best.  However, I have
used traditional zephyr skins from PPCo in the past to make pillow
pouches for a German instrument, which I glued with  traditional hide
glue.  Shortly after, they all came undone because the "traditional"
zephyr skins were soaked in glycerine or something.  They did not stay
glued with anything.

Then I purchased expensive traditional pouch leather, which was so full
of pin holes that I could not use it.  Another skin I bought was so
stiff and thick that Dr. Hickman would have had a fit.

I also purchased various batches of traditional pneumatic cloth from
reputable suppliers and rebuilt a good dozen of players with it.
Needless to say, they all stopped working after 2 years because the
rubber in the cloth became porous, and one could see right through it
on the corners.  I also used expensive traditional rubber tubing and
within a couple of years, it had liquefied, making a terrible mess.  I
also had some that simply split open on the nipples after a while.

Some time ago, I had the seats of my 1964 Mercedes sports car recovered
with traditional leather from Germany, sewn and perforated in the
Mercedes factory in Germany. My car never smelled like leather again
but like chemicals.  Also, it never looked and felt the same either. I
was told that modern "traditional" leather is no longer made the
natural way in vats like in the old days.

So is traditional better?  If it really is "traditional," then yes, it
would certainly be better.  But hey, the world is moving on, and if
something better than "modern traditional" can be found, then I am not
against it.

Kind regards,
Bernt Damm
Sydney, Australia