I've read that smaller chainrings/sprockets give slightly better acceleration, but I do not know at all if this is true.

As for sprockets smaller than 11, I wasn't even sure they were made except for BMX and folding bikes. The angle the chain has to travel on such tiny sprockets is ridiculous. I think even the 11 tooth sprocket is more for mountain bike compact gearing. I wouldn't use anything smaller than a 12 tooth, and actually prefer 13.

I'm a pretty strong rider and my tallest gear on my road bike is 50/13 - not even a 4:1 ratio (it is somewhere around 100 gear inches).

I know a fellow who bike commutes on a fixed gear with 53/19 gearing, which to me seems pretty ridiculous considering there are a lot of hills here. I always blow past him in a lower gear when there is wind.