My sister (who is a cyclist) and I have had this discussion and we both come down on the triple side! When I bought my new bike nearly every shop tried to talk me out of the triple, saying it's not really necessary, not that different from a compact double, etc. But I sometimes pull my kid in a trailer and I love to be able to keep my cadence up going up the hills even without the trailer so I am totally attached to having those granny gears!