I've had N and Z gauge layouts in the past, never HO or a scale bigger than O.
I did, for many years, scratch-build sailing warships in HO scale (1:87), picking that scale because it works well of ships of that size and because I could buy Prieser figures which I would repainted as sailor, typically put posing ting a hundred or more on each ship model when done. But HO is too small for enjoy working on any more. I like O best.