Multiple tiny holes? - Goodyear Wrangler A/T Kevlar

I have a 2016 OR with 28K miles and was on a camping trip to the death valley back country over Xmas when I noticed one of my tires had a slow leak (about 6 PSI in one day) I assumed I had punctured it going over a sharp rock but when I took it to be fixed (for free!) at the local Discount tire here in Albuquerque, they told me it wasn't repairable.
The tire had at least a dozen tiny pin-hole leaks (they showed me after submerging the tire in water)
So initially, I thought I may have backed up over a cactus or some board with small nails but I have never seen anything like it (neither did the guys at Discount tire)
Has anyone experienced such a puncture on these tires? Is it possibly a manufacturing defect?
Thanks in advance for any feedback!
Barak

 

Possibly manufacturing defect, but it could also be cactus spines, although from what I've seen a few usually remain embedded. I haven't heard good things about those tires. Once member here punctured his on cactus spines within the first week I believe.

 

At 28k miles and specifically after an off road adventure, your tire did not develop multiple slow leaks for some spontaneous manufacturers defect.