Only worse if your only goal is "have more RAM".
If the purpose of owning a computer is "get shit done", better memory management absolutely can be better than just throwing more RAM at the problem.
If the purpose of owning a computer is "get shit done", better memory management absolutely can be better than just throwing more RAM at the problem.
Those are not competing in any way. Better memory management does not require nor benefit from less RAM.
Apple doesn't give you a different kernel when you choose the 8GB SKU instead of the 16GB one. It's the same software, just with less RAM. And having that less RAM is best case break-even in "day to day" experience, but never better.
For me personally, I won't even consider a machine with less than 32GB ram in 2020/2021. With 32GB, I never close out of applications that I use regularly, and so it allows me to switch state instantaneously for not that much more money. My workloads are typically read-heavy & multiple GBs - editing/screening/cataloging hundreds of RAW photos, loading of multi-GB games, having about 50 tabs open in FF, etc. After having switched careers I rarely code anymore, and I don't think these are uncommon requirements.