My frog doesn't seem to like hides either. I've put a hide over him before and he just hopped out of it. I would like to get one of those log hides though, but crickets would probably just use it to get away from him.

In regards to lighting, I try to recreate a "canopy" effect by layering a vine/plant under the lamp so only parts of sunlight actually reach the bottom but it still provides heat.