When doing 300 foot per climbs that are 3 miles long or 400 foot per mile climbs that are 3 miles long, I wouldn't call that riding flat terrain. I will agree from everything I have read the mountains out west are longer climbs/descents but they are better graded unlike the hills here in the east. You don't find the same kind steep climbs out west, at least not regularly, like you do here in the east.
I can see I'm going to have to do some big time mapping work with ridewithgps this fall/winter and see how the climbs out west compare. I know what I've seen/ridden here in the east and doing it pretty much entirely in the big chainring is why I'm bringing up the topic. I can understand someone that isn't in shape will need better gearing but it seems like everyone is being told to go granny gears. It's why I'm a bit confused.