How uncomfortable are grados?
Out of the box, potentially pressing on the upper earlobe, can get painful after an hour or so. Otherwise, at least it's not as hot, if your ambient air isn't cool.
You can bend the headband to take on the shape of the second gen HiFiMan headbands - wider at center, sharper curve near the gimbals. Only downside is if you can't hangbang with Grados on before, you definitely should not headbang after reshaping the headband.
That said, if I get Grados I'd get the RS2e and invest on the Headphile C-Pads to fit Beyer earpads on them (they still need the headband reshape). For the plastic Grados, you can use a 3D printer, that way there won't be a start contrast in material and it's not going to cost you $200.
Alternately, there's the Philips SHP9500S. Kind of like the SR60e. Direct replacement pads are not available but when the stock ones really wear out just cut them out and Brainwavz HM5 oval pads will fit. The only real downside is 1) you can't buy drivers if either fails and 2) plastic construction can't be reshaped as you can with metal.
I'm interested as well, Grado ear pads seem super cheap and fragile, like they are the kind of foam that completely disintegrates after a few years
For the most part that has to do with the clamp, and then following that, they're exposed, unlike other earpads that have leather or at least velour protecting the foam from moisture.
Think of it this way - take a pack of two dishwashing foams, open it, set one on the counter and sometimes place a light and dry load on it. Use the other one as you would a dish foam. After one week, that's kind of like Grados after a few months.
I had the SR225 and the Sennheiser yellow foams didn't last any longer; ditto Koss PortaPros and their foam pads. My brother has the SR80e and hasn't changed the earpads since he bought them - rarely used (ie he doesn't get clamping pressure nor sweat on them), he lives in a dry and cool climate (no ambient humidity either, doesn't sweat on them when he does use them).