Well I do concur that on small maps the gas plays a major role in the game play. But I happen to like that. In fact, perhaps because it annoys two of my favorite people (pink and SOB), I actually switch to the gas and a tactical mask on small maps from my usual kit of smoke and deadly silence. As I said before, it makes me think of a different tactic. I like that. It's really just a bonus that it bugs other people.
For me, it also happens to work out that on smaller maps deadly silence isn't nearly as useful. The gas will never be as annoying as Drama Llama, so as long as he is around I can live with the gas.
What I find interesting is how many people don't like the gas, yet obviously a lot of people are using it.