I definitely prefer to keep my stuff in the vestibule to keep the tent cleaner. Before I got a tent with a vestibule, I hated how quickly it got muddy and sandy, especially with the kids. My tent still gets sandy, but less so. In the spirit of full disclosure, I should mention this experience was all car camping. My one night out backpacking (two if you count car camping the first night) was done with a tarp.