(WARNING: MIDDLE-AGED REMINISCING ALERT!) My first tent (military surplus, heavy cotton canvas) was absolutely perfect, unless you had to carry it very far. Also, after a couple of seasons the waterproofing wasn't so hot. The lack of a floor also had some drawbacks, as did the lack of mesh windows. Other than that, it was perfect. I loved that tent.

Much later I got a hi-tech, nylon & no-see-um mesh, separate rain fly, waterproof tub floor, flexible-fiberglass-pole wonder. It weighs a third as much, takes half the time to set up, and has none of the drawbacks of the old one. When inside, I am as isolated from my environment as several ounces of space-age fabric can make you.

Now when going solo more often than not I carry two military ponchos, a poncho liner, a poly/mylar "blanket" with grommeted corners, and a 3' x 3' piece of fine nylon mesh. That is my sleep/shelter system. It's not perfect, and it's sure not hi-tech, but I like the simplicity, flexibility, and multi-tasking capability of the components. I also like being a little more in touch with my surroundings. I have yet to get wet (except for one time when I foolishly set up in a location where the rain water pooled during the night) and yet to sleep cold (except for the occasion just mentioned).

I guess my long-delayed point is, a tent is a tent. It has a function. The measure of its success in performing that function is probably dependent on your expectations and perceptions as much as anything else.