I have two fellow kettles (one was defective on arrival, one was a replacement). They aren’t BIFL and they will spit out hot water at you if you put the cap on in the wrong direction, which is easy to do. Friends have confirmed this also happens with their fellow kettles.

This is right on, opting for "vegan leather" over leather isn't any more ethical. It's greenwashed plastic. Better to look for an alternative to leather that is durable.

I have a canvas backpack from Baggu that I use everyday for school and work with my laptop. It's all canvas except for the hardware, which is a pretty good quality metal. My gf had it for years before gifting it to me. I expect it to hold up a long time.