But would you take a 7/7+ over an se if they cost the same?
No. I like the size of the SE. With a grippy case, I can use it to take pictures of things in tight spaces. It also is easier to carry in my pocket and I am less likely to drop it. Also, I don't watch movies on it because of the size, so I use less data. The battery life is such that I don't need to recharge it daily. If I had started with a full size phone, going smaller may be harder.