For Monterey, I personally would want a bigger tank than an 85. Lobos just gets prettier and prettier as you go out, but it gets deeper, too . . . I wouldn't want anything smaller than an HP100, and honestly, when I dive there, I dive a 130.
In a drysuit, I agree with you. I'm largely uninterested in spending more than 45min-1hr in a wetsuit in Monterey.