Let's take these in reverse order, as I think that will make the most sense...
Bug protection with an hammock is no harder than with a tent. There are a multitude of different ways to keep the skeeters out, but the majority of 'em involve a net of one sort or another. There are two major types of bug nets: permanently installed (such as on the Hennessy, Warbonnet, Clark, and Dream Hammock lines), usually using a zipper closure; and detachable (such as the ENO net or the BIAS Buginator). The permanently installed nets are chosen when you choose your hammock; I'm going to assume that you chose one that doesn't have a net installed, since you're asking about them.
Detachable bug nets come in three major categories (though there are numerous ones that these don't cover, they aren't quite as common): ones that are a tube sock (such as the Dream Hammock tube net or Sgt. Rock's homemade one) that slides over the hammock and cinches down at one end; ones that use a shock cord closure of some sort (like Fronkey's bottom-entry net or the Top Entry Detachable [TED] net); and ones that use a zipper (such as the ENO net or Warbonnet's Traveler net).
Of the three, there are plusses and minuses to each. The tube nets are super-lightweight but do require you to be able to reach up to your hammock's whipping end to tighten them down. The shock cord nets are slightly heavier but are stupid easy to use, though they do have a bit of a learning curve. The zipper nets are about the same weight as the shock cord nets but have a tendency to fail at the zipper if treated roughly.
Any of those three will do you. What you need to ask yourself is what's important in a net: weight, ease-of-use, or familiarity. If it's weight, then the tube net is your best bet. If it's ease-of-use once you're familiar with it, then the shock cord net is probably your best bet. If it's familiarity of the closure system, then a zippered net is probably best.
I'm not sure just what about ridgelines is troubling you? Is it the idea of using one? (And which kind?) Is it the way the word is thrown around here for multiple items?
The use of a Continuous Ridge Line (often abbreviated to CRL) is fairly easy. What it does is allow you to adjust your tarp to center it over your hammock without having to tie and retie knots on both ends every time you adjust. Tie one end, tie the other, and adjust by sliding the tarp on the ridgeline.
The use of a Structural Ridge Line (often abbreviated to SRL) is also fairly easy. It takes up the strain of your suspension pulling the hammock body beyond its ideal sag limit (the point at which lying in the hammock becomes difficult due to the hammock being pulled too far horizontally). It's literally a set-and-forget device. Once you've got it dialed in (and most commercial hammocks will have this done for you; otherwise, start with a non-stretch cordage at just longer than ~83% of the hammock body length and tie it off to both suspensions where they meet the whipping ends, then play with the length until it feels right), you don't have to do a thing to use it. You just need to set your hammock up. That's it.
The use of a non-structural ridgeline (no abbreviation common here, sorry) is to hang gear in the hammock or to keep the bug netting off of your face. These aren't very common, though, as an SRL fulfills this function in addition to its primary one at very little additional weight or bulk over a non-SRL.
The number of pieces of gear is definitely an issue. However, it really isn't all of that much more than tenting. With an hammock, you need four things (possibly five, if it's bug seasons): an hammock (I'm including suspension in the hammock here, the same as I would poles with a tent), a tarp to keep the rain off, top insulation (most frequently a top quilt, but this may be a sleeping bag or even a blanket), and under insulation (in your case, an underquilt). You
may need a bug net, depending on the season. With a tent, you need a tent (I'm including poles here, same as the hammock suspension), a rainfly (fills the same need as a tarp), top insulation (usually a sleeping bag, though more and more ground dwellers are going over to a quilt system), and under insulation (though most folks don't realize this the first time out, that pad on the ground actually keeps you warm). If it's bug season, you need the net inner to your tent. So...about the same number of pieces of gear.
The complexity of the information about that gear is a little different, and it's
very easy to get bogged down in information overload here. Bottom line, though, you're just trying to fill the same needs: to stay warm, sheltered from precipitation, and away from creepy crawlies.
Now, if it's the complexity of set up that's getting to you, lets move on down to fiddle factor...
Fiddle factor can be (and often is) the primary drawback of an hammock system. However, there's good news! It really
can be reduced. If what you're looking for is a quick-up, quick-down, no (or little) fiddle system, there are several different ways to go about it.
First of all, let's look at your tarp. Yep, your tarp. The easiest way that I've seen to set one up is using a continuous ridgeline like what dejoha shows off on
this page. It can be done with some non-stretch line and either specialized hardware from Dutch or two mini carabiners. Once you've got that set-up down, all it is is planting stakes and tying off.
I really like snakeskins for ease of set-up and break-down with the tarp, as they reduce the effects of the wind catching the tarp like a sail.
Next, let's look at your suspension. Yes, everyone loves Whoopie Slings. I use 'em. But they're not the easiest suspension system out there for everyone. With a pair of cinch buckles and some climbing-rated carabiners (you
definitely want life-rated ones here; don't skimp unless you like sudden drops at 3 AM) or Dutch clips, you have near-infinite adjustability with two clips around the trees.
Next, let's look at your hammock's carry system and your insulation. More than likely, you're carrying two or three stuff sacks that have your various insulation, sleeping clothing, and hammock in them. I've found it easiest to use either an oversized blackbishop bag (that is, a stuff sack with a grommet in the bottom so that the hammock suspension can exit from the drawcord hole and the opposite side from that) or a
Lazy Slug Tube. The reason for that is that I can carry my hammock, pre-set with its underquilt and with the top quilt and any clothing in the hammock, all ready to go as soon as I hang one suspension and run the other over to the second tree. Breaking down is just as easy, except in reverse.
Your under insulation should be easy to use, but that requires you to get it dialed in the first time. Once you've done that, you can more-or-less set it and forget it (especially if you mark on the quilt's suspension where the adjustment points were that worked for you). Definitely, definitely, definitely get someone to help you adjust your underquilt so that it hugs the hammock properly when you're in it. The second person checking for gaps and helping you adjust the tension will be an huge advantage; if you can get someone who is experienced with this, so much the better. Note that with a partial-length underquilt, you'll probably want something underneath your calves and heels (a square of CCF is a common thing here, as it can double as the virtual frame in a frameless pack). If you decide upon a full-length quilt, the need for that disappears.
Your top insulation shouldn't be any harder to use than in a tent, with the exception of crawling into a mummy bag. However, you can still use a mummy bag like a quilt; just zip it up to about knee height, stick your legs in, and drape the rest over your body.
As you can probably tell, the major "fix" for fiddle factor (wow, alliteration much?) is to do most of the work at home. Once you've got everything set, it's just a matter of hanging stuff up and setting stakes.
Hope it helps!
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