Hi Shawn... EI 16 would actually increase the grain (theoretically). You'd be overexposing a silver-based B/W film, putting your image on the shoulder. EI 25 would be lower on the curve, and (theoretically) smaller-grained. I've never really noticed objectionable grain with Tech Pan unless I shot it at EI 400 and pushed it in Dektol.(posted 9124 days ago)You must love Polapan-style contrast: 3.5 paper and Tech Pan...
Loading? You might just like thicker bases. At least someone out there prefers loading the nigh-inflexible base of T-max.
As far as big enlargements go, I don't make them. I was getting distracted by the grain in 8x10's when I switched to it (grain that wasn't big enough to be enjoyable, yet not small enough to impress). But being able to explore a neg and crop with relative abandon to pull out decent images is great. It makes up for my sloppy portrait technique.
And the "did you take that with the little camera" disbelief questions are nice.