Nah, I work in DC (which doesn't get too cold) outside most of the time as well. I think people also waste a lot of time and money on the layering/clothing thing as well. I would venture a guess that many (or most) folks commuting are only going to be on their bike for 1-2 hours - certainly nothing with extreme exposure. Instead of worrying about my clothing materials, I just ride a lot to get a feel for how much clothing I need, and I try to eliminate sweat (which is what makes cotton a hazard to insulation).

I like the ride of 32's also. They are a great compromise between comfort and speed IMO.