If it’s what I think it is, cactus leather is more polyurethane than prickly pear. I don’t really mind there being plastic in it, like as a glue or binder, but if it’s not mostly plants it shouldn’t be marketed like it is.

The leather from the article is all mushroom but a terrible material for now.

There’s a lot more variation in fake leathers than in the real stuff, whether it’s plants or petroleum. Anecdotal and not a one to one comparison, but I’ve had (plastic) vegan boots last a bit longer than the leather ones before it. My cork wallet was also better than cheap leather.