you are definitely not alone here - the topic of small rooms comes up here regularly, especially with new construction and renovations, where its a matter of current decision making. (and questioning that decision making.) also things like combination showers and no tubs in bathrooms. also as you mentioned, design in terms of shape/walls, as well as furniture placement. someone just recently brought furniture placement up, and i posted that i recall Groombridge discussing this in several of his reports, and that it also came up in one of the feltrinelli threads. ah, i think it was in one of the recent vegas threads, the larger MO vs FS report, where they compared the rooms including in these terms.

that is also primary position here. in some cases there are confirmed upgrades via virtuoso and amex centurion FHR, and possibly LHW unlimited, for example. but the latter two are expensive, and ive not seen any of the (i believe few) LHW unlimited members here say they have always received a confirmed upgrade. and there may be real limitations on hotel brand and location based on which program.

i agree - the disparity between room and bathroom can be huge, as well as which is emphasized. re size, while some care very little about room, and others care very little about bathroom, clearly (luxury) hotels need a minimum amount of balance between the two. variations, including sizes, within categories can be problematic, especially if variation is quite dramatic. and having little to no information on website can be a hassle in terms of time. (bad sites is another topic here.)

sometimes other factors "may" help offset size >
hotel offerings including number of rooms
location, in terms of physical site
(both being value/price factors)