Pluses: Great shade - especially in the wind. Other brims blow up or down over your face, which is super annoying, but not the Pith Helmet!
Evaporative cooling when wet - nice! Its also great in the rain and pretty tough.
Minuses: The pith can get kind of soft when wet for long periods. When soft, it can get squished and lose its shape and structure. It whistles a bit when breezy - a good tradeoff for the evap. cooling. The leather strap looks cool, but you'll want to attach a better strap.
All in all, its a must-have for me from now on.