Lower Gear Inches or HTFU?

This question on lfgss looks like a red rag to a bull - especially in the case of the older users like Colin, Aniki and myself. It almost demands the sort of answer that starts "When I were a lad...."

So I hope you'll permit me to give one of those:

Just past my fourteenth birthday in 1959 I went on a YHA trip from SW London to Pembrokeshire. I knew there would be a lot of climbing so I somehow managed to afford a new block, specially for this tour. My bottom sprocket was a 25, which at the time I thought was positively enormous - however since my chainrings (donated to me rather than chosen) were 52/48, my bottom gear (27's) was 51.8".

At the time I was convinced that this was such a low gear it would enable me to pull my puny body (and saddlebag) up any climb between London Airport and St. David's Head.

I don't remember having to walk up anything, but that may well be a lapse of memory. However, with my companion (a school friend, same age)we got there and back without problems.

I think gearing expectations have changed a lot since then, and while Colin, Aniki and I would honk strenuously up hills and think that was perfectly normal - for one thing because that was how we climbed on fixed in the winter. Most modern riders start on gears, and usually have some very low ones on their first bike, so their outlook is different from ours.

To answer the original question: I would be amazed if it were possible for anyone to recognise a difference of .79", I think the problem, if there is one, lies elsewhere.