I justified the 34x34 for my vintage bike because I use it as my winter ride and foul-weather bike, and I rode it in l'Eroica... so extra weight, slower, bad roads, and bad weather. Don't call it a granny-gear, it's a Koppenberg Kassett.
It doesn't have that professional criterium rider look... but it does have that "gets ridden a lot" look.