New Cordura and similar fabrics smell like that fabric store your mother used to drag you go into when you were a little kid. Leather feels better than Cordura. There's something about that that is innately human about that. Leather is sexier, if you care. We think we look better in leather.
People do look better in tasteful leather.
Leather lasts a long time with a little, loving care. A 20 year old set of leathers or leather jacket is entirely likely to hang around. An evening of nourishment with mink oil or similar will bring back the suppleness. Now if you still fit in them. Cordura is great.