Yeah, the whole "waking up with a damp face" thing is the worst. I did the jacket bundle for years and thought I was tough. One soggy morning was all it took to humble me. A real pillow is such a simple comfort, but it makes a crazy difference when you're stuck in a tent. What kind did you end up getting?
Honestly thought I was some kind of camping genius using a rolled-up sweatshirt for a decade. Tbh my whole system was just layered denial and a slightly sore neck. Ngl, the final straw was waking up looking like I'd face-planted into a wet sponge. Took that level of humble pie to finally just buy a normal pillow from the store.
Read this article about how bad sleep messes with your mood way more when you're camping. It basically said your brain is already stressed from being in a new place, so a lumpy makeshift pillow makes everything worse. I mean, I used a stuff sack full of clothes forever and wondered why I was so grumpy. That whole wet face thing is just your body finally giving up.