Long story really short.

I lived in an area full of rolling hills with a few steeper climbs then just moved to a mountain top, now no matter where i ride i eventually have to come back up, real bummer. I ride alot and I know I will get stronger in less time living here, but I still need help on some of the really long steep climbs.

I've done the gear inch calculators and my stock 50/36 cranks w/ 12-27 10spd(shim. 105) cassette is getting me about 35 gear inches in my "granny" gear. If I were to swap to a 50/34 and 12-28 10spd(IRD?) that would give me 31.9 gear inches in my "granny" gear. Is this even worth the hassle? I've got some pretty serious mountains to tackle now that I've moved and kind of wished I had a triple, but I don't. I'd like a little more help for those steeeep climbs that involve grannying it up, but I don't know if it would make to big of a difference just those 3.1 gear inches. Any insight on this? Or any suggestions on a better combination for climbing? I know in time with more riding and getting stronger It'll get easier, but I want to be able to do a century soon with some ungodly total vertical feet climbed, and I'd like a bit of mechanical assitance too

Any suggestions, criticism or even bashing would be appreciated. Thanks