I had a thorowgood, it was the suede look one and I loved it but it wasn't quiet right for my girl (dug in at the back, so adjustable gullets definitely don't fit everything) so it went in the end. I do think synthetics have come on a very long way in the last 10-15 years, they used to be appalling.
I would have to agree - admittedly I did ride mostly in older synthetics which might be why they kept breaking on me!