Why do I like to wear a wetsuit?

300 yard time trial in the pool a couple weeks ago with no wetsuit = 5:24
300 yard time trial in the pool last night while wearing a wetsuit = 4:40

That's a 44 second benefit, or 13.5%.
BUT...the % benefit is actually greater when you consider the following:

1) these TT's were done in a pool, and when I'm in a wetsuit I can't aggressively flip-turn like I can while not in a wetsuit. So in open water the lack of walls to push off of would make my "no wetsuit" time slower and my "wetsuit" time faster

2) Last night I was coming off a 10-day head cold and could have gone faster