I don't race, I don't give a fig about cross-chaining, but I do like hills - 15%, 20%, 30+%.

My triple gives me three more useable gears than come with a wimpy compact double, at a penalty of carrying four extra ounces on my bike.

I prefer dealing with the extra weight rather than stop pedaling and/or walk up a long hill, which I've seen riders a lot younger and a lot stronger than me do, because they ran out of low gears.

And when the grades are only 15% or less? Time to switch to my bike with double chainrings. Why limit myself to one bike? But if I had to have only one road bike, it would be one with the triple.