To echo waswadener, it comes down to what kind of riding you do, what kind of terrain you typically ride, and what you are willing to put up with, or not put up with. For example, I have always liked my gear jumps to be small, so on my V20c and S30 I am willing to put up with a front derailleur and a 36/52 chainring combo so that I can run a fairly tight 30-11, 11-speed cassette. I get my climbing gears, my downhill gears, and my smaller gear jumps. But I have to accept a front derailleur and more shifting in order to do that. I'm used to it; it doesn't bother me.
Other people prefer the simplicity of a 1x setup and are willing to put up with the wider gear jumps and maybe not quite having the gear they want on occasion, in order to avoid the hassle of a front derailleur. 1x simplicity is great, but until we start seeing 13, or even 14-speed cassettes, or a feasible planetary gear system comes along that doesn't suck watts and weigh as much as a small boat anchor, the rider will have to accept some gearing compromises in the pursuit of balance. A 42t chainring spins out too quickly; a 48t might be a bit tall for legitimate climbing. Maybe a 44t or 46t would be a sweeter spot in between. Still not ideal, but better than before.
The S40 is an interesting bike because of how much of a chameleon it is. It comes stock as a kind of mid-tempo recreational cruiser, which is totally cool and makes sense. But go one way with a 52-10 12-speed Eagle set up with a 36t chainring to make it a haul-everything everywhere tourer, or go the other way with a 50/36 or 52/36 double chainring and a 32-11 cassette, and you have a road hammer ready to throw down.
