I've got pads from sanders I've personally had for 20+ years and ones I've inherited even older. Never had this problem of them spontaneously decomposing. Maybe it happens with some or certain compounds but I wouldn't think of it as an inevitable conclusion for any and all pads. Environment will definitely have an impact too, warm damp/humid climate will cause anything to decompose faster than a colder and drier one. That's just basic physics not unique to sanding pads.
I've had sanders from Rupes, Metabo, Bosch, Black & Decker and Festool. And it only happened to me with the Festool sanders, and with lots of them, the RO150, ETS 125, DX93 and RTS400.
I had one sander of Black & Decker, and I only had to replace the pad after 16 years because I made the mistake to start sanding without sandpaper on it and the hook & loop was destroyed. And for a hobbyist brand, that sander was a darn fine one and lasted me longer than any of the pro brands. It lasted 18 years, while the others never lasted longer then maybe 10. Only Festool might challenge that, but I don't know yet as I have my longest owned Festool, the RO150, for only 12 years now.
As for humidity, that has no influence on plastics. Higher temperature makes molecules move faster, and thus makes chemical reactions happen quicker, but I doubt a handful of degrees adds a lot in this case.