I've asked over at telemarktips.com, but the main reason why I wrote this is to perhaps attract the interest of anyone who might know some glove designers. I have heard the comment that softshell gloves are for aerobic activities, to which my reply is, but still, why are all the high-end warm gloves WP/B when you don't need the waterproofing?

For example, Inuit hunters and Himalayan climbers need warm and windproof handwear, but they don't need Gore-Tex. Sure, they wear mittens, but what about us glove wearers?

As for downhill skiers, it might be the handy presence of bars, lodges, and warming huts, but they don't pay all that much attention to clothing performance. At my local area (Montana Snowbowl) you will see very skilled skiers (and not just kids) wear Gore-Tex over jeans, sweatshirts, and cotton waffle long johns. There's plenty of cotton tube socks, and also Gore-Tex and down jackets when it's 40F out and sunny.