Thanks for the replies.
Yes, I currently ride a road bike with highest 52/11, tend to pedal with fairly low cadence in a high gear, and treat each training ride like a race due to my competitive nature, all of which I am currently in the process of trying to change. I also took a bike for a test ride this weekend, and rode it up the steepest hill I could find. Even then, 30/32 seemed ridicuously low and the thought went through my mind " surely I can't ever need something this low"
however...
I cannot argue against people who know and have experienced a lot more than me, and the overwhelmign weight of public opinion, so will be going for the lower gearing and am sure I won't regret it....