Old timer told me to stop using PVA on spines, here's why I'm torn

So this retired bookbinder from a shop in Philly watched me glue up a text block last week and said "you're sealing your own fate with that bottle." He claims PVA makes the spine too stiff and cracks after 10 years, and he only uses wheat paste with a touch of PVA for hinges. I switched this week to his mix on a 300 page novel and the page flex feels way more natural, but I'm worried about moisture warping the signatures. Has anyone else rebind with wheat paste and notice a real difference in durability over time, or is this just old school fear mongering?

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holly_price10m ago

Also, that Philly guy is talking like PVA is the devil, but it's all about how you use it. I've seen 20 year old PVA binds that are fine, and wheat paste jobs that got moldy because someone didn't dry things right. The moisture thing is real, but it's a tradeoff, not a dealbreaker. Stick with his mix if you like the flex, but keep an eye on humidity where you store the books. That 300 page novel will tell you more in a year than any debate will today.