Sadly it IS the right time of year for this kind of chat
I like my old Madison DTE (the model with different coloured knee patches, the newer ones seem a bit flimsy.) But, like many I feel long waterproof pants are pretty warm.
I’ve often liked using the short version of those early Madison DTE’s with kneepads and Sealskinz.
It’s cooler that way for sure and more ‘free’ feeling, but, of course, there’s no filthy trousers off moment – get into the car clean at the ride end. and more muddy kit to ruin the washing machine. Trousers can be hosed off with the bike.
Folk talk about the Endura Spray pants as the ideal UK solution – but they really soon get proper soaked, even a bit of wet foliage or a few puddles and you’ve got unpleasantly cold fabric flapping against the shins – yeah long Sealskinz solve that – but you might aswell go for shorts then