Here's a little article for some perspective:
http://www.survivalblog.com/2010/07/why_not_carry_the_big_gun_by_s.html
Good points in the article but I'll still carry a little snub nosed with a pocket clip, or a little .380 while wearing shorts and a tshirt. At the end the author says "Shoot at point blank range all the way out to 100 yards. See how difficult it really is." Hey I know my limits, I KNOW I'd have a hell of a time putting rounds on target at 100 yards with a tiny gun. But I have to ask at what point would I as I'm going about my daily business or errands need to hit targets at 100 yards? To me carrying a tiny little gun would be the same reason I might carry a pocket knife. I wouldn't expect my pocket knife to double as a sword, just as I don't expect my handgun to double as a rifle. I carry the little thing as a small measure of personal protection, and as such I think I would be seeking alternate solutions to a situation rather then be making 100 yard long shots.
I don't wear skin tight jeans, but theres no way I'm concealing a S&W 29 on me in the summer time. Its not happening, despite what that author said "Stop trying to look like the 17 year olds with skin tight jeans." I agree with the author that most folks at the range are shooting their full size hand guns, but I shoot my little guns all the time and am comfortable with them and am comfortable with my choice of having a mere 5 rounds of .38spl on my person to defend my life with IF need be. If I found myself getting into gun fights often then I'd CC the full size firearms with as much zest as the author has for them.