I've noticed on small wheel bikes like with lightweight wheels like the Dahon Speed Pro and Bontrager-wheeled Trek F600 that they have half the normal spokes for lightness. If you had a normal 32h rim and just laced it with 16 would it still be a workable thing? I'm guessing 'yes' if the spokes could take the specific load - in my case 140Ibs of man and you filled the redundant spoke holes so they don't let grime into the rim.

Anyone got any ideas on this? Interested to try it as they look cooler and save a bit of weight....