Hi Jez,
Yes we use our awning (a full size version) all the time apart from a single overnight stay.
Some folks seem to make a big issue about putting up and taking down an awning, but its not difficult and its not time consuming... (if possible its best to do a "trial run" at putting it up and taking it down, at home in the garden, or friends garden, but a good tip is to make sure you are alone for this trial run.... no "helpers" or partner on hand, who may quickly tend to confuse the whole thing beyond redemption!
My existing awning is coming up for 18 years old now ( it was 10 years old when I got it!, but it was very clean and didn't look as though it had seen a great deal of use) and we use it now for all our times away, and it's invaluable, and in effect almost doubles the size of our caravan's usable space. It is a simple design and I can put it up solo in less than 40 minutes (and that includes pegging it out and tensioning so its all smart and dandy!) I'm a pensioner and not in the best of health so a younger fitter chap (especially a taller person!) should be able to do it in a lot less time.
Taking it down is a lot quicker, only about 10 minutes or so and its then straight in its bag (one bag for the awning and another for the poles, and then both are put straight into the car.
I always try and take it down and bag it in the dry, its not always possible of course, but sometimes I take it down the evening before our day of departure, if its a dry afternoon/evening, or the following day's weather forecast is not good.
If its wet, then its no big deal, but it needs taking out of its bag and thorough drying as soon as you get home.... Fortunately I have a garage so with the car on the drive I can tie a rope or two from side to side across the garage and spread the wet awning over to dry naturally.... one day plus the following overnight is usually sufficient to dry it during the summer, but it does take longer in the winter...
To sum up, yes an awning (either full size of a porch type) is a blessing and something we would not want to be without..... but, I do recommend you consider getting a simple one, so much easier to put up, do a dry run at home and mark with permanent marker which poles go where....and which poles join together and where.....(by the time the "permanent markers have worn off to become illegible you will have become accustomed to how to do it quickly and efficiently...) and finally the most important thing.... unless severely disabled make sure you do it all solo, until it becomes totally familiar then other folks/partners can join in and now it will happen even quicker!
Good luck
Regards
paws