While I will err on the side of your PNW knowledge, I will say that fenders make my life extremely nice. I expect to get wet, but here in the Red Clay South the roads will make you FILTHY. I also can handle the minor rain wetness from falling precipitation, but getting to work with completely soaked through pants and shoes is just not fun. Also, before I got my completely city-ready bike, my commuter was fenderless, and it flat out sucked. Rocks, sand, water all flew in to my face. Its not all about the wet.