A bigger part *could* go there (as in, there's space for a bigger part) but that doesn't mean a bigger part *has* to go there.
It's pretty common when designing a PCB to tweak the design so that a range of different component packages can fit in, depending on what stock you have in/what's currently cheap to buy. Saves you redesigning the PCB every time you change supplier.
I'd still guess that those big pads are just to make for better heat dissipation.
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If Feds call you and say something bad on me, it may prove what I said are truth, they are afraid of it.
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