On my MTB, with 3x6 setup, I'm more than happy to mount 14-28 cassettes - tight gearing with all the range I need.
The road bike has 2x8 setup with 53-39 crankset. I can't find any 8 speed cassettes starting with 14 teeth, not even with 13 teeth (except some that are double the price on Amazon, but none locally). If I could, I would.
11, even 12 teeth cassette makes sense for racing IMO, but for casual riding, recreational riding and mere mortals - damn Shimano?!?!
Of course I use descents for descending, sometimes get up out of the saddle, feeling the wind chill my balls.
Never spin downhill, not racing, not rushing anywhere.