It is advantageous that it be about this size, as it is easy to trailer or throw in the back of a pickup truck for sneaking into those little hideaway lakes. A boat any smaller might be easier to carry, but it lacks the size needed to comfortably maneuver around inside it, a task that becomes much more difficult when a fishing buddy is accompanying you. Any larger, and it becomes heavy to haul around by hand, which you will probably be doing quite a bit of. The flat johnboat style hull is also a key factor, as it allows the boat to remain more stable when you move or decide to fish standing up, and won't sink into the soil when you need to pull it across soft ground. I have not seen any rough water conditions on a small lake that would make me want a v-hull.
Many people stop there, and are content to fish out of their oversized recycled can.
However, I take it a few steps further to maximize my time on the water. I first start by adding carpeting to the tops of the seats, where I will lay my rods, and on the floor where I will typically throw my tackle and other things. This carpeting provides some sound deadening, so you are sure not to spook fish when you pick up or put down a rod in haste, or kick a rod along the seat while fighting a fish. This serves to hold the rods down at all times, which is a good investment considering the ease of mistakenly kicking one overboard while fighting a fish or having one bounce out on the ride to and from the lake. Extra carpeting on the floor also minimizes the chance of you or your partner banging around tackle or creating a ruckus when a fish, pair of pliers, or something else drops on it.