It's been many months since I bought two sets. (If it matters to you, the stripes are actually pale gray, but 'read white'.) I have had a chance to live with these towels and I am super happy.
Upon receipt I washed all 16 towels (in only one load, yay!) with nothing more than 2 cups of vinegar, just in case they had a common commercial coating on them. (If not removed before normal wash/dry, will detract from the towels softness from then on.) I then ran them through regular wash and dry.
The towels are exactly what I was hoping for. I am very happy. Here are the advantages I have seen from these these particular thinner towels:
1) delightfully soft, 2) about 3x as absorbent as your average "plush" towel, 3) quickly dries in-between uses, 4) less mildew problems, 5) less storage room needed, 6) large enough to wrap my body in without the bulk [I am 5'10" not-skinny/not-obese/pear shaped], 7) perfect for wrapping wet hair without falling off, unlike a "plush" towel with its weight and mass, and 8) these towels are more efficiently laundered. And they are gorgeous.
Wayfair stated these towels were "Egyptian quality". Turns out, not a false statement. I LOVE these towels. I certainly worked hard enough to find them. Will be ordering more for another bathroom.