I like smaller steps between gears, over the range needed for the riding terrain, my age/condition and loads carried. And there's the benefit of chains that last longer.

When I lived in Colorado and rode in the Rockies (and I was much younger), a double chainring worked fine. Here in the Pacific NW, the hills even within Seattle are much steeper, although generally not as long. Like many riders with a triple, the middle ring gets the majority of use, but when the road tilts up, there's the granny ring with nice steps between the gears. I've recently switched to a smaller big ring so that I will likely use it for more than just fast downhills.

I can't imagine touring without a triple, although people do it.

But if you think this sounds too fiddly, than my suggestion won't be useful.