I don't know where you guys fish, but the "small streams" I fish around here are a bit brush choked.
Bushwackin' with a 9' rod is next to impossible
A 6.5' rod is about all you can handle and a tough old glass stick is best

While I do agree that a long rod is best for nymph fishing, I prefer a midsized rod of 7.5 or 8" for fishing dries.
In a different kind of current, the surf, I like an over sized rod of 10' for mending line over breaking waves