Help, I'm shrinking (what's the deal with Star Wars Driods)

[MDC]

I got done watching Star Wars Acolyte and it left me wondering a few things:

Is Pip a Droid or a prop?

Why does it seem like the droids of Star Wars are getting smaller and smaller with each generation?

Has anyone else noticed this, and does it matter to them?

[Dyne]

I basically said the same thing about it being more of a prop than a proper droid a few hours ago when my friends were asking how long before I decided to build something like Pip.   (I pointed out that I've technically already built a droid named Pip (or P-1P, anyway) ... my MSE-4 mouse droid, which has a thread on this site.)

If I were considering cosplaying a similar character, I'd probably consider it as a prop for that costume, but I'm not.  As projects unto themselves, I tend to favor droids that can move under their own power (at least in-setting, and preferably in reality) both for convenience, my own personal interest in the project, and for crowd interaction.  I've already had an original idea for a handheld droid on my backlog for a year or more, so I'm probably good in that department right now. But you never know; Acolyte's droid may grow on me as the series progresses.

I have noticed the trend, though.  I mean, we've certainly had some good-sized hero droids like B2EMO, but they have lately started to seem like the exceptions.  I could only speculate as to the reasons ... could be coincidence, could be Disney's influence, could be something else entirely.