It doesn't take a lot of concentration to make 2 phones in two screen sizes.
Agreed, and, from what I've heard, the battery life on the 4XL is better than on the regular Pixel 4. I realize we're talking about the Pixel 5, but I always prefer to get the biggest screen possible. Now, assuming there was only one iteration of the Pixel 5, that could be a positive, since I would only have to spend extra to upgrade the storage capacity and not the screen size.
I get why some are upset at the idea that this phone may lack flagship specs, but that doesn't bother me. The original Moto X, when it was released in 2013, was a great, stock-like Android phone, even though the specs were lacking. Similarly, the Nexus phones were also great even though they may not have had the best hardware.
Personally, I am excited to see how Google will price this. When I purchased my Pixel 4 XL during Black Friday, I saved $200. Assuming the cost of this phone is cheaper than the Pixel 4/4 XL when released in October, I'll be curious to know if there may be an additional drop after Thanksgiving.