Bigger Boat vs Smaller Boat

[shawnkillam]

I realize this question is more or less the same as discuss all aspects of life but I still have to ask.

In our quest for the boat we are daily hit over the head with the idea that all boats are a comprimise. For some reason (I assume because of smaller potential market) There seem to be a large number of quite nice boats in the 55-60' range that seem to be a much better value than similarly equiped smaller boats. These larger craft would work for us from the point of view of living aboard. Large complete galley, real live honest to god shower, room for guests, bright well lit interior. The floating condo concept. However is a bigger boat going to be a bigger pain in the posterior to sail. Everything we have seen is equiped with roller furling jib and main, power winches etc so it can be done. The big boats that I crewed on in the distant past were fine but we had a bunch of young studdly crew as well.
From a safety standpoint if we are out in the middle of the big blue and something nasty comes our way are we going to be wishing for something smaller with smaller lines, smaller sails and smaller mass, or will the larger boat be safer and more comfortable.
Storm worthyness is not something that one is likely to experience while chartering, or at least we haven't.
While the safety in blue water is the number one concern we acknowledge that we will be at anchor a lot more than we will be under way. Additionally we are not made of money either and recognize that bigger boat means bigger stuff which means bigger expenses. If anyone could hazard a rough guess as to the increase cost of say running a 42 foot something versus a 56 foot something these thoughts would be appreciated.
thanks SK