As to your packing problems, stuff sacks are round and round things do not pack well, so a bigger bag helps easier packing. Tents too, I always used to fold the tent flat pack.

Surely the medicals a typo at 1.5lbs, that's a lot of medical kit. Bigger than kit at home ! Then again I do not have forceps or anything clever in it?

Is the problem you are not enjoying it for what ever reason. Is the tent too low, the best thing I ever did was a tent with 4 ft head room and space. It weighs more but I am lots happier and content. Little tents are miserable if you can't sit up and its raining. Have you too much or too little equipment with you, as OregomMouse says her mattress is an essential. A happy campers bag will probably feel a lot lighter than if you're miserable. It's knowing what to take not how little to take.