We do have a few hillls that take 5 minutes or so to climb. On those I can climb pretty well in a 39-21 or 25 (never go into 28)
But same thing is that I feel I am muscling to do it vs. a nice cadence (even if it is 10-15 below cadence on flats)
Can't help feeling that I climb well because I am light and push myself rather than having a nice gear to ride in
Plus on flats I am pushing too hard a gear
If this is indeed true then the big ring is not helpful and compact may be the way to go (keep up higher cadences overall)
Or could just ride in big ring with tighter cassette on flats and small ring with enough flexibility on the high side