Andrew R Stewart 

Some of this comparison and which will work for you depends on your expectations, your experiences and your skill level.

Expectations- Life is about more then gear range. gaps between gears is one that most sort of know about but how the bike feels is something that some don't have much awareness for or concerns about. So if all you want is gear range then match that super wide range cassette with a double or triple and you'll have more range then the bike with a single or double. If you want a simple shifting sequence then stick with a single ring and suffer the gaps if you want the range. Simple math.

Experiences- If you suffered with front shifting on a double or triple then go with less rings. If you've found that your need for s "certain" gear is flexible and that you have an ability to turn the pedals across a wide range of cadence then the gaps that wide range cassettes offer will be less a hindrance (with fewer rings). If not then fewer gears across a wide range can be frustrating.

Skills- This is the often mentioned shifting ability as well as the focus of looking ahead and knowing where, gear wise, you want to be before you are there. Having the time to soft pedal through a shift (really needed in the days before ramps and pinned rings) goes a long ways to easing the front shift's completion and is easier done with a good ability to anticipate. Andy