I’m running a 34F and 11-42 rear. The big downside (IMHO) is that with the small front chainring the gearing gaps are relatively larger. I’m often between gears and have to choose between increased effort to lift my cadence, or maintain a lower speed and effort and my preferred cadence.
I’m in the camp of not really understanding the appeal of gravel bikes or curly bar mountain bikes, but I do think if you want to travel long distances or if speed is a really critical component you need a bigger front chain ring.
I might get/possibly should have gotten a 38T or similar front ring given my HT is almost exclusively for commuting and Trainer at Work riding. I just didn’t want to have it be unusable off road for me as a relatively high cadence rider 
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