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Membranes are still ok, it's the DWR treatment that has changed. The old (good) standard was C8, but was shit for the environment and is illegal pretty much everywhere. C6 is less bad, but will soon also be banned, leaving C0 which is AFAIK environmentally friendly, but less effective.
C0 doesn't have the same beading effect so the perception is that it's not 'waterproof', and also the face fabric holds more moisture so feels colder against bare skin. This is even though the membrane is technically keeping the water out (assuming properly taped construction).
Shakedry was discontinued for similar use of flourocarbons. It had the membrane as the face fabric which is why it performed so well, but also why it was so fragile.
Lightweight, waterproof, breathable fabrics really are a bit of a unicorn at the moment. We may have to accept as customers that there will always be a compromise.
TL:DR Yeah - jackets aren't as good as they used to be, but polar bears.
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villa-ru
Previous waterproof breathable membranes used chemicals that were quite environmentally unsound. AFAIK buy a NOS ten year old jacket if you want decent waterproofing
@Chopsicle may be able to shed more light on this