So, I've only used a bidet a few times while on holiday, and I did prefer it to just TP... but I don't understand how I could possibly dry that much water with a single square of tissue-thin toilet paper - paper that is specifically designed to come apart when wet?!

I wrote "skimp," not "skip."

As for the bidet, the ones I've used in Japan make me wipe more, again, because it's all wet back there, and even the ones with the air dryers don't seem to get the job done.