TIL a library in my town is tossing all their old cloth bindings for rebinding in plastic

I was picking up a book from the local library yesterday and overheard the head librarian telling a volunteer they're clearing out the old section. She said they're sending about 200 books with worn cloth bindings to be stripped and rebound in a standard plastic laminate. On one hand, I get it, plastic is cheap and lasts forever on a shelf. But it made me sad, you know? Those old cloth bindings have character, and some of them could be repaired instead of replaced. Has anyone else seen this happen, and what's your take on durability versus keeping the original materials?