Yes, the raindrops can result in rain-fade, but most often it isn't the rain drops but the density of the cloud as it moves between the reflector and the satellite. This was confirmed on a Tech Forum by one of the engineers: CLOUD DENSITY. That explains why in a number of instances I had no interruption of signal with heavy rain, but when the rain turned light, I would LOSE signal. Yup, looking outside a big black, dense cloud killing my signal. Also, the rain would also be a constant downpour, but I had signal, then would lose it for two minutes, but then signal came back for good, but with rain STILL has hard as ever.
However, I agree that the real need is a product to prevent snow from accumilateing. I am very skeptical of any such product as described in this thread really reducing rain-fade in a number of scenarios, and if that dense cloud is between you and the reflector, the most common cause of "rain-fade" such a product won't do any good.
Further, the hose test is not a good test and a water being hosed is not a good simulator of rain.