@facw — That's the thing about the good stuff: it lasts (and is more satisfying to use in the meanwhile).
I blundered upon a great deal on about an eight inch thick leather shoulder bag that I bought because of the forever-looking zips and clasps, but which also proved to have not only padding but an aluminum hoop inside to protect the laptop compartment.
It won't quite hold a change of office-type clothes unwrinkled and the laptop as well, but will go under almost any airplane seat, so that's my basic travel kit, augmented as needed with a messenger bag, a small rollaboard that would survive being checked, or when necessary one of the Real Suitcases.
Some people consider it too heavy, but I figure that if weight is a concern, whipping ten pounds off myself would be better (from a variety of standpoints) than shaving ten ounces off my luggage. Besides, the laptop and what's on it is somewhere between quite important (not to mention expensive) and the entire point of the trip, so I want it to survive whatever TSA, air pockets, or my own occasional klutziness might throw at it.