Wider=better
Without disputing the advantage of the 1" belt in tight spots such as illustrated above, I found the wide, long belt better because it allowed me to use it to bring parts down to their dimension lines (after hack sawing or band sawing) and have the surfaces come out straight/flat. I gave away the 1" model when I got the wide, long one (Harbor Frt). For inside curves, I found either hand-sanding or a little drum on a grinder or drill to be better. Just how it was for me, not a universal truth.