I slept like a baby many nights in a body bag when in the service.
They're great for "cool" temperatures and rain but that's about it.
We tried to get some but found that to be nearly impossible and we always had to turn them back in. At that time the military was still using the huge, heavy sleeping bags that sucked if it wasn't cold it was either that or the trusty Ranger Roll of poncho liner and poncho...a poncho liner inside a body bag was paradise! and lightweight.
I think it was Sgt. Rock in a post a long time ago who said -
"The more I carry the more I like camping, the less I carry the more I like hiking"
To each their own. I wouldn't want to lug an 8 pound, 2 man tent for solo use but realize that split between 2 people the roominess provided would be worth it...but than again there are tarptents for two that weigh 4 pounds.
I have a bunch of tarps, tents and hammocks and would not sleep under just a tarp if I didn't have to. I know plenty of people who do and again, to each their own.
If I go out planning on putting in any kind of daily mileage I try to stay fairly light but that isn't to say a 50 pound pack is out of the question for a multiday hike as the food weight would gradually lighten the load.
For putting in 12-18 mile days I wouldn't want an 8 pound tent..but that's me.
Bootstrap for what's worth I've got a 10x12 Equinox silnylon tarp that I use over my hammocks and I have never had a drop of water come through it.
A mesh enclosure could be sewn (or bought) to go under it that would keep you and your girlfriend seperated from the bugs and creepy-crawlies.
The water that you mention under your tarp sounds like "misting" which is common. Water vapor collects on the undereside of the tarp and as rain drops hit the tarp from the top it causes some of the collected beads of water to fall. This is something that i have not had under my tarp but have had in tarptents and tents. The amount of ventilation under the tarp simply kept condesation from being an issue. If the tarp is pitched in a close upside down "V" and close to the ground where little ventilation gets in it can allow condensation to collect and later mist down.