I would think someone would have to have Flawless technique to have the difference in the size of frets noticeably impact their ease of playing.
I could see it going both ways -- if your technique (and by extension your awareness) is at a high level, you'd be more likely to notice differences in setup, fret height etc., but if you're ham-fisted, you might have a hard time adapting to and playing with the "tiny frets" (or light strings, or a very low setup).
Don't know, but it definitely "seems" like it to me. If the frets are big enough, the board feels scalloped and it can feel like you're not even coming in contact with the wood if you have a light touch.
I have heard this this said by aficionados of big frets on guitar.
and I cannot lie! Now you other brothers -- wait a minute...
I like big frets and I cannot lie!
I hate that you stole my thunder here.
*
One thing that hasn't been mentioned re. tiny (low) frets vs. very tall ones is that, on the same neck, with the action set to the same height, the neck will feel a bit bigger -- at least your hand will have to open a bit more -- by the difference in the height of the frets. You might not think you'd be able to feel a few thousands of an inch, but I think you'd be surprised.
Differences in tone have been mentioned and I can believe that -- more mass in the form of metal, stuck into the wood.
I don't have any basses strung with mandolin wire and I'm not sure what size frets are on my Fender ('88 Power Jazz Bass Special, if anyone knows). I know that they've been leveled and crowned a couple of times. They're neither tiny nor huge, but they are lower than they once were and I like the feel. I like playing fretless, too. I think I'd like small frets, but I guess I'd have to see. I know that I don't like the railroad ties (though I can see why some people like them), but I can play them, sure.
For what it's worth, my basses are set up lower than a lot of folks', but higher than they used to be. Pretty sure they're within Fender spec -- maybe on the low side of it -- but I'd have to measure to be sure. With low frets, even if the string doesn't touch the board (which it shouldn't) your fingers do a bit, which feel some people like.
I've read that narrow frets can intonate more precisely and provide a more clearly defined "stop" for the string, but I don't know to what extent that's a factor, particularly if frets are properly crowned.
Short version: Just different (at least for the most part)/depends on the player.
