Any question answered...

Ugh. What the heck is the difference between different Assos lowers? I am trying to decide on a pair of shorts, maybe a pair of 3/4 knickers in Autumn, but cannot figure it out for the life of me! The letters and numbers don't mean anything as far as I can tell, except different pad types but that still doesn't explain what the pad types are.

don't look at the numbers just look at the temp rating on the assos site to give you an idea of fabric.
the mille pad is huge and supposedly for long distance the rest are just expensive.

pad info here http://www.assos.com/en/67/choose-your-comfort.aspx

santini are better value imho (the posh twistgel ones) dunno what the girls stuff is like though