My pack is my pillow at night. I also prefer unpacking and packing it inside the tent when it's raining. That keeps everything dry. Once everything is packed, I put a pack cover on the pack and stick it outside while I take down my tent, which is stowed in one of the outside pack pockets.

Most of the time I either don't deploy the vestibule or only partially deploy it (for better ventilation, less condensation), unless there's "horizontal rain" outside. I therefore leave shoes outside only if it's good weather.

I generally take a kitchen trash bag (which has other uses) along to put under my shoes if they are muddy.