Unless your in the desert
Yep - then it becomes a bivy sack.
I was talking to my buddy - we're in PHX and I live south of South Mountain which is a HUGE park that's perfect for stealth camping. I'm not sure if I'd take a tent or my HH but with snakes and scorpions, I'm not a big fan of sleeping in the open.
Here's a picture from a 2008 kayak trip which shows why I *love* my hammock. I had done about 23 miles in the heat of the deep south and was ready to stop for the night. Except - there wasn't a suitable site until I came upon an old dock that wasn't level. Luckily, it was good enough and there were two trees just right for the hammock. I cut down the vegetation under it and spent a nice night there...hot but peaceful. I didn't see a soul for the better part of two days either.