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Two small practical points
Two fair points. I think if chainline was really an issue people wouldn't be racing them at high level both on and off road, and I've never had a problem. Over the last 6000 miles or so, I've never changed my chainring (garabuk one, still looks good as new to me), I've changed cassette once although I probably didn't need to (new wheels), and change my chain once every spring). I'll admit I use friction shifting, so any wear etc is mitigated by the ability to adjust the gear rather than it indexed. I also care less than most about wear I expect. I don't measure chain wear etc.
Narrow/wide and clutches are so good, see above, particularly off road.
Just my views, I used to love triples and still think 3x is the best aesthetic for gears.
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RonnieOatmilk
@clubman
An Old Person's View
I do wonder why anyone would want such low gears.
When I was very young (14) I did a YHA trip from London to South Wales (Brecon Beacons!) with a schoolfriend (same age). I thought I might need lower gears, so I bought a new 5 block (ie cassette) with a 25 tooth bottom sprocket. This was combined with a 48 inner ring and I thought at the time it was a super low gear! Of course I was wrong, but all the same we got there and back - I don't remember walking up hills, but I don't guarantee that my memory is perfect.
One thing I do remember clearly is that at Oxford, on the way home, we pooled what remained of our money and found that between us we had enough for two Mars bars and fourpence for a phone call home in the case of dire emergency (not needed). Actually, quite good budgeting for 14 year olds. I remember the worrying shape of the Chiltern ridge coming into view, but I also remember that the climb up Dashwood hill to Stokenchurch was no problem when we came to it.
Two small practical points: if you have a double chainring, your chainline will be better on the bottom sprocket than it would be with a single. Also, if you unship the chain (not unlikely with so many sprockets), you will probably be able to get the chain back on using your front changer without having to dismount.