Common sense —we refer to some past players such as Greenleaf, Hoppe, Mosconi, Lassiter as “greats” - they used tips made from one piece leather and I guess they worked “ great”
Equipment is far over rated if you don’t have the stroke under pressure and if your stroke delivery is not consistently correct for each and every shot.
Tip hardness is probably 75% of the feel of your cue’s hit. Other than that my opinion is the rest is all in your head - maple, carbon, steel, ivory, layered , not layered- does anyone think it really makes you better- after many years I say - not really - all just personal preference as we add options.