Mash ratio simply doesn't matter much at all, especially if you fly sparge. One advantage with higher qt/lb ratios is that the more water you use, the better your mash will hold the heat and prevent the inevitable cooling into low to mid 140s. With a batch sparge, if you want to improve efficiency for big beers, mash super thick 0.8-0.9 qt/lb and sparge twice. With normal strength beers, a higher ratio like 1.75 qt/lb will hold onto the heat better like I just said. There is nothing wrong at all about mashing down at 1.25 qt/lb -- I did it for many years with great success. Now I mash at 1.75 qt/lb for the improved heat retention. But does it really matter? No, not really, not a big deal. There are far greater things in brewing worth more consideration than mash ratios.