Bomber Hydrobomb?

It's just my opinion, but I wouldn't consider going to sea without a full drysuit and I have overheating issues, too.

I did some re-entry drills in a coastal lake a few degrees warmer than the ocean in dry pants and a windbreaker and the cold water sucks the strength right out of you.  No surprise there, but I was surprised by how hard it made it for me to heave my chubby self back on top of the kayak.  It happens scary fast.

I have a non-Gore-tex dry suit and I don't think Hydrus 3L breathes well at all - I end up wet from overheating - but it's tolerable on hotter days with the zipper open.

Not sure what "recipe for disaster" you believe is caused by unzipping a dry suit.  If it fills with water, the water in the suit has exactly the same weight as the water you're bobbing-around in so you're not going to get dragged down by it.

And yes, it's a PITA to empty a dry suit that's filled with water through the relief zipper (since I've tried that, too) but it can be done - if don't mind looking like you're dry-humping your kayak.

Lots of people don't go the full dry suit route and they're quite happy.  I tried paddling pants and a dry top and decided that if I, personally, get dumped in the water, I want to be dry when I get back in the kayak so I can keep on fishing.

And I've only fished the coastal rivers.  The Sea in 2016!

I now use a wetsuit works great no relief zipper but it works great l. And no I don't pee in it ! If it's going to be colder out I can put slacks and synthetic top over it

You are studlier than me.  I found a wetsuit to be too chilly when wet.  Might be a proper solution for over-heating and safety.

Shannon
That's kind of how I did my first ORC. A Farmer John with rash guard under,a,semi dry top and wind pants.

Dunked my butt, what ? 3-4 times gettting out and froze my num nums off when I stopped moving.  How you keeping warm in that thing?

Ok as a garbage man for 17 years in the west hills of Portland , I was the guy in shorts and a tank or tee shirt well into October. I typically don't kayak fish after October unless it's sunny out. In a black wetsuit you stay warm under the sun even soaking wet and in the summer time I have to carry a measuring cup to dump water on myself to stay cool. Keep in mind surfers are in and out of the water all the time in wetsuit. If you start to get cold paddle around for ten minutes you will warm back up, yes you CAN paddle a Hobie! Wet suits are not for those that get cold easily. 

Wow guys! Thanks so much...after almost 2 years you are still chiming in.  No worries though.  I picked up a Stholquist Shift last March.  Hit really nasty weather springer fishing.  Dry...warm...no worries about swimming.