YOUR OPINION - what is the real deal with tank size?

[cgib831]

I have seen and have been involved in a couple of heated discussions regarding tank size. There are a lot of guys who just want to know what they can put in their tanks, and a lot of other guys who say you need a 7,00 gallon to keep one baby fish. Opinions, rules of thumb, what does everybody think? I am on the small side because I have to be, but I have turbo filtration and am religious with care. Stay civil though, as this topic seems to generate a lot of passion.