All this debate is missing the point of the OP's question... was asking about the high end, not the low end. Living someplace flaty-flat-flat, is there any point to a high gear such as a 53x11 or 53x12... my answer would be probably not so mcuh.
Sprints with a massive tailwind? 40 rpm muscle tension intervals?
That's about all I can think of. Those are unlikely unless one is racing.