> The condensed feels a little too narrow for lots of text

Well, it's supposed to be! :-)

If you want to cast it as an alternative to the "normal" one for text, then I think you have a problem because the normal one is already on the narrow side (although it's also too loose).

But if you decide to go for it:
1) Call it Narrow instead of Condensed.
2) Make it maybe about halfway between where it is now and the normal one.

hhp

First I'm told its too tight, then I loosen it, now its too loose. Arrrgh. Is there a rule of thumb I don't know about?

No rule of thumb*, just eyeballing refined over time. Observe, measure, think, all the time. Or if you're going to listen to other people's advice, learn to gauge what they mean by things like "a fair amount" versus "slightly" versus "a hair". :-) But whatever you do, note this: it's quite amazing how small adjustments need to be to make sense in type design - I think even seasoned designers are periodically humbled by the degree of subtley required.

* Although I can imagine somebody one day coming up with a killer formula that balances color, spacing, contrast, proportions, intended size, etc. Sort of like PV=nRT in chemistry. Of course it could never be so exact, but it could save a lot of time by immediately putting you in the ballpark.

hhp