I commute every day and never wear rain pants. If it's a cold rain, my PI thermafleece tights are plenty warm, even when wet. If it's warmer, then I just wear regular tights or shorts. I've got several pairs of (cheap) rain pants--my dog walker shops thrift stores and brings me tights and pants--but I'd rather just wear the fleecy tights.

I've got the Showers Pass hood, but seldom wear it either. I've got a Sugoi helmet cover, and I'll wear my buff (or balaclava if it's cold) and that works fine. If I didn't have the helmet cover, I'd probably wear the hood more, I suppose. I like the helmet cover because it covers the visor on my helmet and keeps the rain off my glasses, sort of.