I admire you for your studiousness!

My Luna came with a regular double, and I needed more easy gears than I could get with just changing out the cassette. I originally planned on getting a triple, but that proved problematic with all the technicalities involved--I don't know enough about it to give you the details, but it had something to do with the derailleur and shifters. Perhaps someone else can explain it.

So I went with a compact double and it works great. I rode the bike up Skyline Drive in the Blue Ridge--50 miles each way (spent the night at a lodge). Coming back down was almost as much climbing as going up.

Recently, I've been riding my Bike Friday, which has a triple. Next week begins Bike Virginia, which will be in the mountains of Virginia and Tennessee. I don't expect any problems with the gearing--just my legs and lungs.

So, the solution, as I see it, is to get two bikes. At least!