It probably depends what your objective is. One of the benefits you get from running less capable models is that it's easier to understand what their limitations are. The shortcomings of more powerful models are harder to see and understand, because the models themselves are so much more capable.

If you have no interest in the inner workings of LLMs and you just want the machine to spit out some end result while putting in minimal time and effort, then yes, absolutely don't waste your time with smaller, less capable models.