why does wetsuit buoyancy make me faster

I just have to say.....I couldn't find any benefit to me by wearing a wetsuit.  I don't swim any faster and I don't float any better.  I'm convinced that the only benefit is staying warm when the water temp is cold. 

Do you all really find a noticeable difference when wearing a wetsuit, especially as it relates to flotation.  What am I missing????

Yes. Especially if it's a deep/in-water start. You don't even have to tread, you just sort of float there before the gun goes off. I only move my arms to prevent from drifting away if there's any current. If you bend your legs up a bit, you can just sort of "sit" in the water.

For myself.. I have noticed a 12 second speed increase per 100m .. I swim about a 1:40/1:42 or so per hundred in races.. so not the greatest swimmer, but not terrible.

In response to the heat question, I would say that doesn't completely jive with scientific research on the subject. I don't have the links with me, but it is discussed in the tri-talk podcast.. Tested in a controlled environment a 30 minute swim by the same athlete in water .5 degrees below wetsuit legal with and without wetsuit showed a 1.5 degree higher surface skin temperature with no higher internal body temperature. Within 15 minutes the increased surface temperature had completely dissipated. But the performance by the athlete substantially stronger with less fatigue on the swim, with no residual affects of the increased temperature on bike performance. (since less fatigue on swim, bike performance may have been better but don't completely remember the end of the podcast)

The reason why wetsuits make for more speed in the water is simple: Less drag. 

Movement in air causes less friction, and movement in water causes more. Since the body is more bouyant in a wetsuit, there is less of the body in the water; thus less drag. To top it off, it is easier to BALANCE in the water with a wetsuit since there are several centers of bouyancy with a wetsuit unlike very few without. 

The pool at our gym is short (6 lengths = 100 yds) so there are a lot of turns involved in a workout.  Swimming in my wetsuit in the OW, I'm about 20sec/100 faster.  I know swimming in the wetsuit is easier, but how much of that speed is gained from not having to turnaround is unknown.  The added buoyancy is nice and I know I feel like I glide much better with my wetsuit on.

I love my wetsuit and have starting viewing the pool like the treadmill - ok if you have to, but outdoors is soooooo much better.

Gosh, I bought it used at my LBS and I sure hope it is a wet-suit for tris...is there a difference?  Something is wrong here though if you are telling me it should literally feel like I am wearing a life vest.  I truly feel no flotation help at all....weird.  My suit is sleeveless and covers my legs to just above my knees.  The brand is "Trimax" and it is 90% neoprene and 10% nylon.  Anyone able to help me make sense of this "nonfloating" wetsuit of mine?