We will never ski during the high traffic periods like Christmas, March Break and weekends so I don't think we've ever had to wait more than a few minutes at a lift. The beauty of a big hill like Whistler Blackcomb is when 7th Heaven Express gets busy (and it does) you can slip over to Glacier or to the Whistler side to find an open lift and quieter runs. At a small hill, there are less options. A busy day slows every lift down. Beyond that, I travel with some family that aren't avid skiers so I'm not really going to have much success booking a family vacation at some remote place with no other amenities.
You like Manet. I like Monet. To each his own.