Interesting post and thoughts!
When you say: "The double-layer should be comparable to the SS in terms of function.", I'm thinking "not exactly".
Only in the sense of keeping warm, then they might be comparable. But there is a potentially big difference- comparing a CCF pad to an UQ. A lot of folks( definitely not all) hate the feel and comfort aspect of a CCF pad in a hammock( even in a pad pocket, though this is IMO a big improvement over a pad in a single layer hammock). While the HH SS, regardless of whatever drawbacks it might have, in my experience is directly comparable(as far as back comfort goes) to any other UQ. Other than an increase in warmth, I can not tell any difference in feel ( back comfort) with the SS or with out it, just like with any other UQ. Having said that, I think the BB manages a pad better than
most any other hammock than the JRB Bridge hammock. But it is still a closed cell pad, and not every one will put up with the different feel of a pad compared to the feel of the hammock without a pad. And that's before you even get to the back sweaters out there!
In the end, the double layer of the BB is nothing more than a system to make a closed cell foam pad manageable in a hammock, and it does a fine job of that. A 4 oz Speer SPE also does a fine job of pad management, and the best of all is the JRB BMBH. But it is still a CCF pad ( or a Thermarest model same problems). While the HHSS, by suspending an OPEN cell foam pad UNDERNEATH the hammock ( so that it does not actually support any body weight, and is barely in contact with the user's body) has no CCF pad feel at all, rather it feels like an UQ. So to more directly compare the feel of these two you would actually need to add some sort of UQ to the BB, IMO. ( BTW, I own and love a WBBB, as well as a HHSS( still quite a fan of it), a Speer SPE, and a JRB BMBH( great comfort), among others. As well as various quilts and pads. So I am basing these thoughts simply on my personal observations. YMMV, of course!
Because of numerous folks who do not care for pads in hammocks, you will notice that the majority of BB users are using some form of UQ, mainly a Yeti.
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