You can also get liner shorts...ultra thin with an underwear style waist band, meant to be worn under regular pants or shorts, yet they usually include the padding and the wicking ability.
I use those when I'm riding to a store or someplace I'm embarassed to walk around in just bike shorts with my 46 yr old butt. I always wear real baggy shorts over them, though, to minimize chafing.
On the overall question, I share the experience of others who scoffed at bike shorts...until I started riding in them. Never looked back.
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