Hi buooy,
While I don’t have a quick fix the current approach reflects a great deal of feedback from the first iterations of WooTickets. We’re always open to feedback and I’d encourage you to log this (and make your case, as it were) over at UserVoice:
https://tribe.uservoice.com/forums/195723-feature-ideas
We can then review it and other users can also indicate if they support this or otherwise add feedback about the idea.
The latter of the options you discussed – combining the confirmation email and tickets – is probably the most readily achievable: reinstating PDF tickets would be far more involved.
I’m sorry I can’t offer up an instant fix here – but do know that either approach is definitely possible and, again, we look forward to receiving your feedback over on UserVoice.
Thanks!