"I see the lost Ranger is on sale again at REI... At least the long one for $165.00. My concern is no insulation on the bottom. I've always used a 48" ThermaRest pad. Should I go full length to take care of cold from the ground. Early May trips I've been on have been miserable at night due to the cold in the ground... or so I think. I can get a good deal on the Thermarest Go Light. Just concered that it is enough."

Ben, I'd say you are right, and do need a full length pad, both for comfort and padding under your heels.  I do most of my trips in early season as well, and it can snow or be frosty.  I normally bring a 3/4 length ultralight pad with my down bags, and put some additional padding under my heels - that's always been warm enough in my Marmot bags.

I've never bought into the no insulation on the bottom concept - I think there's a little logic and a lot of hype in those claims.  With a normal down bag, the bottom half curls up around your sides, leaving less airspace to be heated, and I doubt that the ground pressuer of a pound or two per square inch (or whatever it amounts to) is going to completely crush all the insulating airspace out of the down or whatever insulation - maybe if your back was as flat as plywood and shaped exactly like the bag, you might lose some insulating effect, but otherwise, I'd think it to be a minimal loss.  Most major manufactureres stick with the insulation on top and bottom for a reason.  It should be cheaper and lighter to make a bag with no insulation on the bottom though - there are several "cottage industry" makers of down quilts that might be a better option, not sure.  Maybe the allure of the BA bags is the BIGness ?  whatever.....