I used a Solo this year with 7 days of food/gear this year. Alaska Range too, so not that minimalist. Spotting scope, synthetic jacket, Akto tent, etc. I added a lid for additional volume, and put the tent under the lid until I ate some food. Worked fine with a little room to spare actually.
However, I did make my own food, which cut volume significantly from using Mountain House. If you are packing those MH bags, the volume disappears fast. And an overstuffed pack is annoying.
I liked the panel access better than a center zip for a small bag. Fishing stuff through a center zip is good, but being able to open the whole thing up is even better. As noted, when the bag is compressed around meat it's harder to get into... most packs have that issue, whether it's meat on a shelf or meat in a bag. Not a big deal though. Just lay the pack down and loosen the top straps if you really need something. The top pocket is still quite usable with it compressed, so little stuff can go in there.
I'm not sure it's any "better" than a Sky 7400 in bivy mode (my other pack). I just happened to have it on the frame this year, and all the gear fit... so what the the heck.