" Yep, larger textures are always better, but not completely necessary. " Note that this is not true. More accurate would be "large textures where necessary within a given scene are better". in an 800 pixel square rendered image, 4000 square pixel textures for that Item that's less than 40 pixels square int he background is not only excessively wasteful, but pretty darn foolish....

thou and I, my friend, can, in the most flunkey world, make, each of us, one non-flunkey, one hero, if we like: that will be two heroes to begin with. (Carlyle)