I bought some Race Blades for my new road bike nearly three years ago. They are still in their bag...never fitted.. I figured that if it was really chucking it down, I would get wet anyway, or wear waterproof trousers, in which case mudguards would be superfluous. I ride every day in all weathers and I seem blissfully unconcerned by fears of "A Wet Bum".
I'm a Southern Softie too (north of the border "hard men" take note).