I have a 50/34 crank paired with a 13/28 cassette. Most of the men in my area get by with a standard double, but I can't say the same for the women I ride with, most of whom have a triple or a compact double.

I don't know what kind of terrain you ride, but if a friend of mine basically just told me to HTFU with respect to gearing, I'd tell him/her to eff off--in so many words. Get gearing that suits YOU! It doesn't need to suit anyone else!