needs practice to set up, especially in the wind or in the dark
no bath tub floor so you are exposed to flooding issues if you set up in a low ground position
strong winds will likely result in the tarp hitting against you continuously and keeping you awake as there is no frame to keep it off you as with a dome tent
strong winds may blow over your centre pole which will need adjusting in the dark
strong winds will whip in under most set ups causing wind chill
they are NOT insect proof or animal proof - mosquitoes especially can be problematic but at least in cold weather insects tend to be much less an issue
they generally do not have a floor and thus you may have to put your sleeping mat on wet or muddy ground
depending upon set up, wind and rain can be problematic, especially if the wind changes direction overnight
more enclosed set ups can have condensation issues
are effectively only “single wall” tents and run the risk of rain seeping through contact points
some set ups have a central pole(s) which can be annoying
needs a bivy bag for added water and wind protection
impossible to keep the air warm and hence your face will get cold on cold nights
less amenity than a tent with a large vestibule