RE: Why I think a smaller plane is better.
I have planes from 38" to 104" wingspan. The only difference I see is one fits assembled in the back seat, and the other rides in the box of the pickup. If I feel really lazy, I'll leave the big one assembled and strap it in the box with the last foot or so of wing hanging out each side of the box! (no it doesn't try to fly away)
I am not the best pilot, but it seems to me that flying large or small is really no different. You can keep a small airplane closer to you, but the large ones should never get so far away that they look small! :-)