I am extremely happy with my unpadded Brooks leather saddle, so I am biased.
But I had a rotten saddle once that I used for years with a gel cover. The cover really did help. Once I discovered the Terry Sport (not made anymore) I never went back to gel of any kind.
It just depends on what works for you, so try whatever you find.
Someone once mentioned a TE'er saddle exchange for the saddles gathering dust in everone's basements and closets. Did anything ever come of that?
"If Americans want to live the American Dream, they should go to Denmark." - Richard Wilkinson