Started on accordion myself... just a little 48 bass job to start, but having the cycle of fifths laid out just so, helped me grasp the relational aspect of most pop changes long before I had the keyboard chops to play anything in any key.

But, OTOH, once I moved on to piano, I started to realize the advantage that some more keys gave you. I just wonder, if arranger makers primarily made keybeds in accordion sizes, and the 61 was the largest size they made, if those here so determined that THEIR preferred keybed size is the 'best' would be as patient with a bunch of guys playing 49 note arrangers telling them they don't NEED that extra octave..!