Doug, that's right about Cyclopedia recommending SnoSeal and in Aspen, we had lots of SnoSeal and used it. Neatsfoot, too, underneath, but that became on top when we hung the bikes upside down in the hanger at Sardy airport.
The thing we (my uncle and I) would do was something recommended by my leather harness-maker grandfather back in Illinois. It was to take a 2 inch wide length of Turkish towel and wrap the saddle nose fairly tightly after rides. (sort of like the butchering technic's goal) This kept the nose shape from sprawling outward.
Ken Wehrenberg, Hermann, MO USA