Your choice of lining material depends on how much you sweat, how often the coat is cleaned, if it needs to be washable, and how warm the lining should be. My coat (for Indiana) needs a silk/rayon blend. My coat (for New Orleans) needs a rayon or tencel blend.

And what, I ask you, is the lining of a coat for but to get crazy with?

Yes. Basically. (Although my entire coat is a little outre for winter coats in the Midwest.)