I have the highlighter jacket from last year, and for a first year of production I was actually really impressed with the fit and quality of the jacket. I've skied over two full seasons on it now and it's held up pretty well.
the water does indeed beed, it's not a low end fabric that just soaks everything up, I've skied numerous rain days in that jacket and when my saga pants soak through the jacket is still dry underneath.
I only have a few small quams about the jacket. The stitching on one of the vecro straps on the wrist has started to become unstitched, but not that much. The shoulders fit kinda funny because of the removable sleeves, but I don't think that's an issue this year.
The jacket is great, but one of things I really like about it is that you don't see a thousand people at the hill with the same thing.
For sizing, if I were you I'd go large mainly because you are still growing. I'm 6'1 and wear the xl and it's barely baggy.
Hope that helps!