This is true! I am doing brevets on Specialized Tricross with 34-46 crank and 12-27 cassette. Any climb at the beginning I am able to do with big ring in front must be done with small on return. There were so many brevets I wished I had at least one more small gear.

I am now looking into a new bike and the first thing I am considering, is to move from compact crank to triple and have this extra gear just in case.