Is it wrong to ask if raingear is an essential item?
I don't have experience bicycle touring (yet) but I thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail last year and probably spent 1/3 of my time walking in the rain. I sent my rain gear home after the first 2 weeks because while the rain didn't go through the gear, my body sweat like no other and I was just as wet. It was high quality gear too. Mountain Hardware I believe.
After sending the rain gear home and just living in the elements, I never regretted it.
Is there something unique to cycling that would make this much different?