I just did my first project with a smaller pic. I couldn't agree more. Pay the extra few cents for a bigger chip and more board, it is a pain in the ass to move chips back and forth for development. The little pic12F752 has a lot of features but, until I make a million of something, I am not going to do that again.I just ditch the pins used for ICSP mostly, can reuse for serial IO.
There is no real-world need to deal with *small* controller ICs in preference of lets say 14 or 20pin.
The smallest I use have 14 pin, need more, take another IC.