Seems I provoked a fire storm here!
I bought small cell bees to avoid the time and effort of regression--Buckey Bee did it for me. So they shouldn't have any more trouble drawing small cell foundation than regular bees do regular foundation.
I understand your criticism, Finman, and that's why I was careful (for those who are beginners or haven't heard about small cell) to say that the jury is still out. Apparently, the few attempts at formal studies haven't been very thorough. In other words, putting a couple of frames of small cell foundation in a hive is no real test.
Dee and Ed Lusby in Arizona are the biggest proponents of this. They have a commercial operation (about 1,000 colonies, I believe) that have had no treatments for about a decade. Small cell isn't the only thing they do, of course. They let colonies die, in effect, doing natural selection. They do not feed sugar or pollen substitute. In other words, the bees do it for themselves 100% or they die.
There are Africanized bees in Arizona, but Dee says that her colonies' temperament is gentle, though she makes no effort to restrict queen mating.
Dee says there are three things needed for healthy bees without treatments: good genes, small cell, good nutrition (meaning no sugar and pollen subs).
For me, as a hobbyist, it's worth a shot. I may end up being one more member of the chorus of beekeepers saying, "darn the lack of studies, it works for me!"
Or I may end up cleaning out a bunch of dead outs. Like Finman, I believe what I see for myself. So that's what I'm going to do. :)