Yeah, I agree on the water-resistant need for luggage. I have a Travelpro Crew-8 set that is not really water resistant (at least, I don't think it is) and I am now starting to rethink that strategy.

But you have to take pity on the casual traveler who thinks they can carry a normal size bag on the plane, only to find they are on a CRJ with no real carry-on capability. And then seeing that bag they thought would be carried on soaked for almost an hour in heavy rain. Most travelers are just not that savvy.