I'm enjoying a compact 50/34 with 11-34T, have the gearing for any hills I encounter and the extra spacing means I actually shift less, not more. With tight gear spacing, I usually always shifted up 2 or down 2, now I shift once to maintain speed and cadence.
Around town, I usually ride in the 34 chainring and on the open roads I'm using the 50. This combination works for me.