Yes, exactly. It's not for sweat absorption. It should wick sweat away, not soak it up. It's not for padding. It should be too thin to provide any padding.

I agree with Alan that it's there to smooth out the area, but we're not talking about hiding your genitals. The point is that there are no bulky seams between your body and the saddle.

More important, I think, the chamois provides a non-slip layer between the outer clothing and the body, so there is no chafing on the skin. If there's any rubbing, it's between the outer clothing and the saddle. You should be able to wear a hole through your shorts without getting saddle sores.

I can't believe this thread is in the commuting forum. Does anyone really commute on a chamois?