Is a wetsuit necessary? Which one?

Hello everybody,

I'm new to triathlons. I've competed in one sprint and am totally hooked. I have a few more races planned before the "season" ends in October.

It's going to be chillier (especially in the water) for these upcoming races. I am debating right now whether or not to buy a wetsuit. I am divided on the question for a few reasons.

First, I have a competitive swimming background and am by far the strongest on the swimming portion of the tri, so I don't think I'd even get a big speed or flotation boost from a wetsuit. Maybe this is an arrogant and wrong assumption, but I've seen some online data to back it up.

Secondly, I'm short. Real short (5'1). When I look online at the wetsuit sizes, it's not even clear that any of the adult sizes will fit me. But when I look at "junior" wetsuits, the selection of tri-suits is limited and for people under 100 pounds.

Finally, I'm a grad student, so I'm also as poor as I am short. Ideally, I'd like to spend under 150. Really ideally, I'd like to spend under 100 for a suit. This is also why I was looking at the kiddie stuff.

On the other hand, regardless of speed, a wetsuit does provide warmth. This is important to me. Also, if I ever decide to compete in ocean swims, I have a feeling a wetsuit might make things vastly easier.

If anybody (especially short women) have any experience buying wetsuits, I'd really, really appreciate your advice--on brands, sizes, stores, specs, etc.

Thanks!