In many cases I know the route (partly very well) and need routing just as time check, if I will arrive in time or not.
In that cases I do not need the map. I would prefer to have a kind of a dashboard including a trip computer. I know, there are lots of apps in the playstore, but memory is very small on my Xperia Active. And having all this in o n e app (as for example Oruxmaps has as highly configurable dashboard), would be much more elegant and MFN should anyway have all data needed. My small screen has space just for three panels on the bottom.
What could be on the dashboard:
Speed arrival time Azimut Level above sealevel km to go km driven on the trip average speed duration to go time spent on the trip satelittes fixed satellites in view ???
But as you write: ist not big and it is max. three on my screen. On a dashboard I would have a dozen or so. And for a.m. situation I have a large map I do not need.
It is visability but it is also a focus on information more interesting for me when driving rather than a known route on a map (see above). If I see, how many different speedometers (with additional information rather than only speed) are available in the play market, I do not feel lonely. ;-)