well I just unwrapped my bags and the leather on the taupe one is not at all cheap looking - it's much much nicer than the photo - lovely and soft and pliable. I haven't really investigated the black one yet. Mine are the bog standard big shoulder totes - like the nylon ones, so not the handbag.
If you google the purse forum and lonchamp le pliage cuir there are loads of photos of the handbag kind, with the shoulder strap - not just full of paper like they are in the shop, but being worn by people. I must say they look really nice.
anyway - that's the quality ...as for boring, yes they are a bit, but that's exactly what I want. I find I use my nylon le pliages often at the moment - sometimes as my only bag, sometimes as an extra bag - to carry a laptop, ipad, papers, overnight things. I've used them so much I've knackered my nylon taupe one so it needed replacing, and this is just as light (really important for me as I travel a lot) - only it looks nicer - really the leather is lovely
They are for when I don't want to hurt my shoulder with a big heavy proper handbag.