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@nick_h.
I'll be interested to see how you get on with the filler. I'm using it to fill cracks in a coat and holes in a rotting sheepskin jacket. I don't know if that's beyond the scope of an amateur. It's claimed to be good enough for an invisible repair when someone burns a hole in a car seat with a cigarette. Supposed to be strong and flexible enough to sit on. You can stamp a texture on the top coat so it matches the grain of the leather.
I don't know whether cobblers ever use filler on cracked shoes. I doubt it. If they charged a fair rate for their time the bill would be just too high. But it's fun to do things yourself which are not economical for a professional. Very satisfying if you can extend the life of something instead of binning it. My sheepskin jacket is 78 years old and would probably be burned by a professional, but I'm optimistic that I can save it.
When you soak the leather be very careful with the shoes. Wet leather can get so squishy that you can cut a gash in it with your finger nail. Don't use any heat to dry them.