If it's raining enough so that I would get wetter from the rain than from perspiration, I use the gear. It's a personal challenge to see how dry I can stay in the worst weather.

I had a great rain event last week. I got caught in a downpour, so I ducked into a gas station to wait it out. I was sure it was a passing shower. It kept raining, and raining, so I finally gave in and put on all the gear. I headed out. I went a block and a half and it quit.