I wouldn't put too much stock in that report. From all I read, those people were unprepared and unskilled. There is no reason their bags got wet except carelessness, from what I read of their own accounts of what happened.

I have hunkered down in torrential rain in my old SD Flashlight and stayed dry, so I don't what they were doing. Poor choice of shelter seems top of my list. Who goes out in a snowstorm without snowshoes or skis? I'm sorry, those people are idiots.

However, for kids in the PNW, I think you made the right choice. I have a down bag and an old synthetic bag. I've never gotten either of them really wet, but I do have a bivy sack for my down bag that won't keep it perfectly dry, but will repel casual water.