I presently ride 52X17 for 81".

Some time back, after an injury, I went to 47X18, which, if I recall correctly, gave me 70".

I like the big ring and cogs for intuitive reasons; meaning, I can't prove what I suspect intuitively.

It seems to me big rings and cogs, with their larger radius and all-around largeness in general, work more efficiently and with lower stresses than do tiny rings and cogs.
A few extra teeth and an extra inch or two of chain adds a little weight to the bike.
I can only say that the same inch ratio with big rings and cogs seems more efficient to me than the same inch ratio with small rings and cogs, and I have a sense of less wear and tear.
The difference could exist only in my mind.

Anyway, I can go up any hill with 81" that I could go up with 70".
The big difference happens on the downhill side.
With 70" I have much, much more control than I do with 81".
With 81" I can go faster with less monkey-motion, and in some ways I feel safer at speed with 81", except for the braking thing.
I actually thought about going back to about 72" for the all around control and acceleration, but now having lived at 81" for awhile I have picked up some downhill braking skills I didn't have before and I might just stay here.

Anyway, I worked up from 70" to 81" in small steps by using a 47t, 48t and 52t ring in different combinations with 16t, 17t and 18t cogs.
I had a lot of fun experimenting and I might still go back to 72".