....If it's windy, I'd have to use tent stakes, but being able to put it up on rocky ground without having to mess with driving tent stakes seems to be an advantage.
Just my .02, but I
always stake my tent out, and I don't wait until it's windy to do so. If the ground is too hard for stakes, then I will tie off to trees, use large rocks as anchors, fill stuff sacks with sand, etc. Some may think this is being overly cautious and unecessary when the weather seems calm and fine, but thousands of nights outdoors have reinforced this lesson for me.
What about sleeping mats? Light is better obviously. But then ease of inflation also comes into play. Anything to look for or avoid?
Yup - light is better, but so is compactability. I opt for a sleeping mat that doesn't have a core material inside, and is fully inflatable (not self-inflating, like a typical Therma-rest). Even so, it's easily inflated in a dozen breaths or so. No big deal at all, and it packs down to the size of a can of beer and fits in a standard bottle cage.
My bike frame only has one water bottle mount which is kind of a pain, but that area will be filled by a frame bag so it is a moot point. I've done a lot of sewing, so making my own frame bag isn't too much of a challenge. I plan on incorporating the frame bag and gas tank together with 2 side pockets running along the down tube for holding water bottles.
Hose clamps will allow you to attach a bottle cage just about anywhere you want on your bike. Another option is a 'feedbag' that attaches to your stem & handlebars, and allows you to carry a water bottle in an easily accessible place. Many different bikepacking companies make a variation of this bag.
