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After owning many expensive and high tech raincoats, I've concluded they are a scam. Waterproof + breatheable is simply a contradiction in terms, no matter how much fancy GoreTex you use in the construction. Better coats will last a bit longer before soaking through, but they all soak through eventually. Better coats will let your sweat out a bit better, for a bit longer, before becoming saturated and soaking you in your sweat. The single most important factor is how many vents the jacket has, and how well they work. There seems to be little correlation between price and vent quality.
If you dont want to get wet, bring an umbrella. If you dont want to get wet from rain, but dont mind getting sweaty, then a poncho or trash bag works great, as do cheap non-breatheable waterproof jackets that are basically just a solid plastic shell (like the traditional bright yellow ones).
That's the impression I'm getting.
Think I'll stick to umbrella for city locales, and some kind of shell for hiking.
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In case anyone want's to really nerd out about waterproof-breatheable membranes.
Classic GoreTex™ was expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE). It's probably more correct to say that it is waterproof OR breatheable, and this trade off is tunable. When it is dry out there can be enough of a gradient to drive some sweat through the membrane, but if the humidity is greater on the outside of the membrane (because it's raining) the gradient is usually in the other direction. The patent for ePTFE ran out some time ago, but most membranes in that style are now expanded polyethylen or polyurethane. I think, but have not seen lab data, that the performance is actually worse, but presumably the manufactures are concerned ePTFE will get designated a polyfluorinated compound of environmental concern.
That brings up the topic of durable water repellent coatings. If you expect some rain, but not extreme cold or sustained rain a "wind-shell" with a DWR coating may be enough, and will breath better. Additionally, membrane based jackets typically require a DWR coated shell for durability and to help mitigate the reverse gradient problem above. In terms of performance fluorinated DWR very likely outperforms alternatives, but are being phased out due to environmental and health concerns and the associated reputational and liability risks.
If you (1) are in the US, (2) don't care about durability and (3) don't mind looking goofy, a set of frogg toggs ulra-lite2 rain suit or poncho is a pretty effective alternative to those $1 plastic ponchos you see people wearing at various tourists traps. They do tear easily but pack down supper small, are relatively cheap in absolute terms, and breath better than a trash bag. If there is a risk of it dropping below 60°F and it raining I would pack at least that. It is possible to go hypothermic in 50°F weather if you can't move around and are wet.
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