Hi Angie --
Agree with lots of the comments upthread about wavy/curly hair being a bit unpredictable.
A few things from my perspective (wavy + coarse; transitioned to embracing waves several years ago):
-- W/C hair is a commitment; it doesn't do well with "I'll wear it straight today, curly tomorrow"
-- W/C hair is fragile; it doesn't take to being washed with even gentle shampoo daily (instead, "wash" with conditioner) and it needs so very much more conditioning/oils than I ever knew.
Straightening irons (which I rarely used) and coloring (which I do to cover grey) both create damage so those of us who do one or both need to try to counteract that.
-- W/C hair doesn't mean waiting around with wet hair forever; one can blow dry -- diffusers are one's friend -- without blowing straight
-- W/C hair usually needs product, and finding product takes experimentation, which I personally find a PITA. I use one and accept the consequences of potential "imperfection."
-- W/C hair not only benefits from an experienced-with-curlier-hair cutter, as mentioned, but may need to be cut dry to avoid wacko curl pattern issues
And to me there's no doubt living in a cold damp climate makes W/C hair more of a PITA!
My hair prefers hot and humid (so it dries fast with big waves) or drier (frizz-free smaller waves). Guess where I like to vacation? PNW in winter = 4 hours to dry naturally and potential to misbehave once I step into nature. But I have fabulous summer hair, ha!
I have very tough hair that can take a lot of abuse but since ditching the "wash + blow dry every day, pull hair straighter with brush technique" my hair is in super condition. That's worth the winter RATE thing to me.
[Besides, even if I straighten the second there's moisture in the air it frizzes.]
ETA to add photos. Know you all can't see but personally I prefer my features with natural (wavy) vs straightened hair.
1-2 Dry summer days
3 Rare dry winter day