I wasn't sure about these at first. I also would hsve liked them longer on the leg, more like shorts not short-shorts.
However one thing I loved is how comfortable the fabric is on my hips, because the seams of the stitching are in a different place, so around the front of the hip bones and around the sides they are all smooth and this feet really nice compared to normal clothes.
The absorbancy is good, I'm not sure they suit night wear for back sleepers. I am not heavy so can't comment much. I think wearing them too much you might start to feel a little clammy around the back, not as breathable as I expected and slightly heavier than expected too... but not like wearing a nappy.
In the mirror from a metre or two away they just look like normal boyshorts, so in that regard they are fairly covert as being period shorts.
Overall I give 4 stars. Size wise they seem to come up as you'd expect. So order your normal size I'd say.
Pretty comfy.