The answers you were given were based on your terrain. Momentum is a huge factor on rolling hills and you can use a much higher gear to get over them. A 20 mile long grade like the coast California mtns or the Sierras requires you to grind up. I can easily ride at 3-4 miles an hour at a comfortable cadence because I've chosen the right gear, not too low, not too high (you have to be Goldilocks). Factor in the horrible potholes in many of those roads and that they are steepest at the top, and those extra low gears can be really important. And, a 30 min climb isn't all that long for some areas.

Your comments specifically referred to "most people" so you widened the net beyond the OP. That is why we responded as we did. The 1:1 ratio may be perfect for someone of your fitness in your terrain and maybe even riding in a pack. Spinning wildly is more about choosing the wrong gear at the moment than having the low gears. If the hill doesn't warrant a 26x34, don't use it. But if you don't have it, you can't use it when you need it. You may not need it but a lot of us do. And a lot of us simply have limits to the amount of force we can put on a pedal.

As far as learning to be comfortable at 4 mph, may I suggest slow races in a big gear? Last one over the line wins. These will really help you feel more stable at low speeds.

aicabsolute, road racers of your ilk (as in the types of races you do) need completely different gears than the average rider. Your discussions were focused on answers for you, your terrain in your corner of the universe.