Fair enough! I wonder if I am just being unrealistic with my old coat (Canari Deluge), then again while it keeps the rain off it also doesn't have vents.

Apparently REI does stock Precips by me, just not in that color, so I can go put my mind to ease after work. Even if it doesn't appreciably breathe better than my old coat, for the money having vents and the ability to leave the coat on it is probably worth it.