Thanks for all the replies. A couple of thoughts:
I know the term "bookshelf" my be antiquated or inaccurate but looking around I do see several high end makers that call their own "small" speakers "bookshelf speakers" and some claim they will work against a wall.
Aerial Acoustics calls their 5Ts "small" speakers. "Small" being relative of course. With their sand filled stands they were no smaller or lighter than the 6T floor standers and with the stands not a bit more flexible in terms of positioning.
As for adding subs to bookshelf speakers on stands, I personally don’t see how that is any better than medium towers with subs. Same size, same space, same flexibility.
I do understand that cost can be a factor with small vs floorstanding speakers but when you add the cost of high end stands and the necessity of subwoofers then the savings aren’t as big as they seem.
So for me, unless a small speaker will perform well on a shelf or a table and not absolutely require subs, I don’t see a great appeal.
But some of that can be chalked up to my inexperience. If you have bookshelf speakers on stands with subs and you are happy with how they sound then the form factor is irrelevant.