Hi, the pads use a tape, and so some people say "glue" which is technically not really correct, though of course tape is an adhesive. The pads can be easily replaced, and we maintain pad availability for years after products are no longer made, for example we still have Alpha and Ether pads available. We never want warn pads to limit the life of the headphone.not sure what your idea of a headphone's lifetime is, but my HD25-1/II got to their 3rd set of pads and 4th cable (fck that cable!) before I replaced them..
The Beyers (1350) I replaced them with would still be good, but the plastic softener started oozing out and all the "matte satin finish" surfaces are now sticky gooey surfaces..
I didn't know that the pads are removable, to be honest.
So far, everytime I read about the Aeon closed, it was "mimimi, pads are glued on"... and then the seemingly omni-present issue of the foam deforming.. if that's truly such a pressing issue, you'll be replacing pads a couple times a year.
(by the way, that's what they recommend usually.. to replace pads twice a year, because they get softer and the sound signature drastically changes with them)
But if those pads are truly easily replacable, I will give the DropX Aeon Closed another consideration...
Changing the pads just takes a few minutes, it's very easy, we also have a little video on YouTube.