From personal experience, kendo cotton is not that bad. Though other cotton such at cotton bacon V2 is definitely better, kendo cotton is worth its price (considering you got it straight from our Neighbours).
Kendo cotton takes a whole lot longer to 'break in' even compared to normal unbleached cotton, but once it does, the flavour really comes out. You don't get that new cotton taste when you first put it in, and initially it's really REALLY hard to absorb
juice. Like I said, after it 'breaks in' it works pretty well. Yes it lasts longer too compared to normal cotton, but not as Long/good as the cotton bacon V2
I'm still using Kendo cotton now haha