Cliff,
Your detailed post was most informative! 
But of course, I do have a few more questions. 
The impression I'm getting from posts by ScubaDadMiami, Nicolle, and Michelle is that different fabrics have different benefits and drawbacks too, I suppose.
For example, your cordura is durable, but is it flexible (for wear and travel packing)? (SDM's latest drysuit only has cordura on certain spots of the suit that take more abuse than others; the knees for example.)
Nicolle's trilam is compact but according to Michelle, not as warm as neophrene.
Michelle's neophrene is warmer than trilam, but if you're layering undergarments underneath it anyway, is warmth in the drysuit itself really a consideration?
As for undergarments, what are you wearing?
Nicolle recommends Weezle undergarments, and Michelle was planning on buying thinsulate. According to CoquiDiver (sp?), thinsulate keeps its thermal qualities even when wet.
What I especially liked about your suit, Cliff, is that it has a front zip. I'd prefer not to need anyone helping me into my suit, although I'd be diving with a group anyway, so there'd always be someone around. (Nonetheless, I'm notoriously independent and self-reliant, and would prefer to keep it that way! 
)
Anyone else care to add their opinions on drysuits? They'd be most welcome! 
Lots of good points raised.
The most flexlible material out of the main categories is: trilam. It has no stretch, but if you have a properly cut suit, you don't need it to stretch. You just need it to fit well and allow you to move freely. A properly cut trilam will do this.
Adding a layer of cordura on top of this material will not affect flexibility except for in certain places like shoulders, elbow and knees. So, I made sure to add cordura to my suit without adding it to the inside of my shoulders, elbows and knees.
The lightest material: trilam.
The thinnest material: trilam.
The material that takes the least time to dry: trilam.
The most durable material: most would say cordura; some would say neoprene. The least durable when exposed to wrecks, etc.: trilam.
Neoprene does have the most stretch, and it is still pretty flexible. However, it is the heaviest material, the one that takes the longest time to dry, and the one that takes up the most bulk for packing and traveling. Picture putting a heavy, thick, wet drysuit into your suitcase for the return trip home from your travel, because that is what you will be doing for a long time to come.
Looking at all of these factors, I go with trilam, and then I cover points of the suit that could have durability issues with cordura (and crushed neoprene on top of this for the knees). Now, I have a flexible, light, fast drying, unbulky and durable suit.
Insulation: I would NOT make this a factor at all in the selection of the suit material. You can more than compensate for the slight insulation that neoprene gives you by wearing proper underwear. Don't confuse yourself by adding the suit material to the insulation question.
For undergarments, Thinsulate is the only material (that I know of for diving) that retains 80 percent of its thermal retention capacity when wet. (Other materials are adequate until you get a suit flood, which will happen some day. Then, they are pretty much worthless.) You can get a lighter set for warmer water diving, and then you can get a heavier set for colder water diving. Just make sure that you suit it cut to allow for the use of both.
Yes, you should also be considering suits that allow you to self-don and doff. It is a tremendous convenience factor, and keeps you from becoming dependent on someone else.
I did take a chance when I bought my suit by not ever going to a demo day, etc. But, this might answer a lot of questions for you if there is such a thing going on near where you live. We can talk this to death, but actually wearing and using a suit will answer all of the questions. Taking a class can be very helpful in learning how to use a suit, too.
