Hikerduane , it sounds like in the Apache case it was a function of humidity in the air that lessened the loft of the down. I don't know if a different shell would have helped or made it worse. I would think that a Gore shell would actually make it worse, because it would hold more of that humidity in? Not sure. Thoughts?

Good point about the stitching though... you can have the best fabric in the world, but if you can see through the stitching, water is still going to get through.