I think you are giving good advice there Jim. I have abandoned my 2 person tent in favor of a silnylon tarp. It has lots of pitching options, weighs very little and takes up little space. However, with the bugs we get in my part of Canada I am seriously considering going back to tenting. Perhaps I will end up with a lighter more expensive tent down the road. As you pointed out, a tent has its advantages. As for bivys. I have never used one or seen the need for one. So far the tarp seems plenty adequate to me, as far as rain protection goes. Perhaps in very heavy rain, a double wall tent might be the best.

Howie