We stayed in tents because of the Alaska weather. The course in the Rockies and such use tarps, yeah, but we were camping on snow or glaciers a fair bit, and when we weren't doing that it was raining, and there were no trees for tarp hanging either (you can use rocks, but its a pita). We even had a big group mess tent--why that one, I'm not sure, I think so we could eat out of the rain. I did sleep under a tarp for our two day solos, but we were required to eat since it got quite cold and wet under there (normal groups fast).

Thanks for the advice; I'll take the down under consideration. Do you just stuff it, then, if you aren't supposed to use a compression sack?

I'll take that list of packs with me when I go to try on, thanks!