I think it depends on the sort of driving you do. Guys that do the 'on/off/on' driving IE hillclimbs, skid pan work and track work will always favour the small stuff.
Steveo overlayed a 2.6 with SS's and my 2.8 with 5's and down low they were pretty much the same. Top end, well we know what happened.
2.6 with -5's is still lethargic, however peoples definitions of being lazy/lethargic/laggy are all different.