Right, but you're comparing serial flash with parallel flash. Very different animals in terms of support! I agree, there's no reason to use anything with more

Right, but you're comparing serial flash with parallel flash. Very different animals in terms of support! I agree, there's no reason to use anything with more than 8 pins for a serial flash. Though I usually end up with MSOP or TSSOP, myself, probably since I rarely have to rework them. (Avoid the smaller DFNs, I always seem to have the worst luck with sourcing those when I need them. Even though they're always perfectly available at design-in....) SOIC-8 is the way to go for op-amps, though. Manufacturers don't say it loudly, but any part which isn't package trimmed will always perform better in larger packages. It's not a huge effect, but if you have a free choice, why not? They're also easier to rework, and analog stuff often needs a rework or R-C across the pins or whatever.