I'm a masher, I love riding in the 53t ring, I don't like to go to the smaller ring and only use it on real long hills (never the steep ones).
A year ago I bought a bike with a compact double, it's taken me 11 months to get used to the gearing. Some things are so strange like sitting all the way up a hill, coming down a hill and running out of gears way before I want to and keeping my cadence in the high 80s or mid 90s for the whole ride.
Frame and "ride" aside, I have learned to appreciate the compact double. Long hills are a treat and muscle recovery is non existent. Having said that, I still enjoy mashing up a steep hill and the speed I get out of the big double.