I'd go with the smaller panniers. You can always add a huge duffle bag across the back if you need more storage. Also, tank panniers work OK on the DR.
I would not worry so much about width, rather I'd worry more about WEIGHT. Hard boxes add a lot of weight. If you stay strictly on road then no prob but if you go exploring off road at all, then plenty of dirt roads ... which sometimes get nasty can be found. This especially true in Peru' and Bolivia where some main routes are dirt.
I went from hard bags to soft bags on my DR650. Much better off road. I went from carrying 100 lbs. down to 65 lbs. 22 lbs. was panniers, racks and hardware. So true what you say about "... if you have the space, you will fill it".
Using soft bags I've been forced to really cut back on what I carry. I rarely camp. Much of Latin America is really NOT good camping. Research this and you will find many who wished they'd left camping gear at home.
There are several feisty threads here about Hard vs. Soft bags, look around, you'll find them.
Good travels.
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