...hair holds a lot of water, which it tries to deposit into my open mouth every time I turn to breathe. The cap holds no water, so i get no water running down my cheek, save for the tiny bit that clings to the cap, which doesn't interfere with my breathing.

Find different goggles or a better strap, unless you are in a mass start OWS/Tri, that's a silly reason. My Swedes work best with only one strap and rubber nose piece vs string...$2.75 and I've been wearing them for ten years (save for a few strap changes). Tempo trainer is a better reason, but you need to learn to swim by feel - that's what the sport is all about! Yes, I'm a purist...

I never wore a cap...I'd rather shave my head (and I did) than feel like a grape in a vice. Can't stand it. My hair was absolute shite in college, but I wore a hat like 90% of the time, so in my 18-22 y/o mind, it didn't f'ing matter. I did a lot of OWS as well, and unless the temp was below 65, I didn't wear one either.

Buy better shampoo & conditioner (real key right there), free yourself of the temperature-increasing, head-squeezing, emasculating cap.

I wear because I get water in my ears bad, the cap helps to keep it out for most of the swim. also goggles don't slip as much on a rubber/latex or whatever its made out of compared to the hair on my head.

Just don't put on your cap and goggles in the change room. On deck is fine.

How does the cap protect hair form the chemicals, your hairs still gets wet when you wear a cap.