And to go along with the uncouth cleanliness idea:

1. I have some dirt-stained tent bottoms because of no ground cloth <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />. Who wants to see their $300 tent get dirtied up?
2. Silnylon floors will soak through. Ground cloth stops that.
3. During a lunch/rest break, in muddy areas, ground cloths (dual use here folks) keep your clothes from getting muddy.
4. In the morning, the ground cloth is soaked on the underside. The tent is not. It is easier to let the ground cloth dry on your pack than the tent.
5. Along w/ #4, it’s easier to roll up your tent on a dry groundcloth instead of a wet/dirty ground.

And there are some more dual-use ideas…

-Barry