MTBs are coming out with 50T+ for a reason right? 32T might be fine for a 1hr ride on bridleways but some of us ride rougher stuff, longer stuff, carry stuff, yada yada and I was always the person that laughed at Compacts. I've just got fucking older matured.
Was that blissful tarmac in the middle of the summer or ankle deep mud in winter? You know, gravel can be a lot of things these days.
Also, I think @hippy statements are always based on a loaded bike a week deep into an endurance event.