More port area is better, but the problem is that with more port area, to maintain the same tuning, you have to have a longer port. A longer port, as I'm sure you realized will result in a larger box overall with no greater net volume.
From what I've observed, a port's tuning is affected by how effectively it impedes airflow.
-Of two equal length ports, the one with the smaller area will have the lower tuning.
-Of two equal area ports, the one with the greater length will have the lower tuning.
It seems then, that the best thing to do would be to make a box with small port area because you could have a shorter port while maintaining tuning, which would result in a smaller overall box.
However, the problem with a port is that too small is that the same volume of air is now going back and forth in a smaller area. (Air in a port doesn't flow in and out of the box, it stays within the port and just moves back and forward as the air is rarefied and compressed.) With a smaller area, the fluid velocity increases, [Velocity is inversely proportional to area (V=k/A).] which as it moves across the rough corners of a port can cause a noise like wind, which is called port noise.
I'd be interested to know if the fluid in the port can be treated as or is a laminar flow or not.
Ca.com members please comment.
In short, it's unwise to use less port area because you don't want to make a bigger box. Although I'm not sure how the math to that area to volume relationship works, if there even is any, I would recommend that you go with no less than 84in^2 (12in^2 per ft^3).