In reply to dermo:
Personally I'm not really sold on 'breathable waterproof', really. If you're not really cranking out the sweat then they're ok, and they will keep you reasonably dry. However, they have two huge flaws:
1 - they're full of holes for your appendages
2 - you soak them from the inside
I'm sold on 'softshell' in many of its forms, be it pile-Pertex stuff in the winter or more modern stretch garments with only water resistance as opposed to waterproofing. Less moisture INSIDE the system. I'll often take a minimalist hardshell as a last-ditch layer if the weather turns ugly but I'd rather not be out in that!
If the weather is really disgusting then I have a big bomber mountain hardshell but honestly I don't wear it often. Great at what it does but it's something you shouldn't need regularly in most places.
I just got a Mammut Ultimate Hoody which will be interesting. It's Windstopper, which is basically stretch Goretex but without taped seams, complete with the relative stuffiness. It does, however, have ENORMOUS side zips rather like my Montane/Buffalo pile-Pertex systems. Dumping moisture should be easy. I'm hoping that between the high water resistance and the huge vents it'll be able to more or less replace my PowerShield and Goretex layers in most situations. One less thing to carry!