and there will be lots more of those smaller textures to render, far far more, yes the 1024x1024 are more graphically intense individually but the smaller ones on modern games far outweight the proccessing power needed to render the scenario we were talking about.
anyway im sorry to have taken the conversation offtrack from what the OP wanted to know in trying to point this out for you, i have no doubt you'll post again after me but as i cant make you see the light i'll simply stop posting to stop myself deralling this anymore