I think the trend to space saver spare tyres needs to be addressed. Most of us use our cars for country and or interstate runs occasionally, and when safety is such an important issue, as it should be, surely a full-sized spare should be mandatory.
I too would prefer to have a full-sized spare so you can fit it in the case you have a flat and continue on without any of the speed restrictions that apply to space-savers. But space-savers save on weight, which affects fuel economy and performance, and take up less space in the boot, which allow carmakers to reduce the size of the boot or allow extra luggage to be carried.