I have been on many squad sized patrols as well, but I feel we were lucky to have never been hit with any level of sustain contact. As soon as a squad starts taking casualties, it becomes practically imobilized. Become imbolized and you need rescue. A small platoon may be too large to patrol as a massed unit but it can be dispersed into sections that remain within support range of each other. Particularly for urban combat, lone squad patrols risk the entire squad.
Reed
P.S. Yes I know NCO's LOVE squads becouse that is the tactical echelon they get to lead. Doesn't make them well sized or structured for independent ops however.