Noise gets complicated. It increases as resolution increases, yes, but you can reduce that to an extent by scaling the noisier picture down to the same resolution as the cleaner image. You can use the high-megapixels when at low ISO, and process to a cleaner lower MP image when necessary. I'm sure the higher MP count still comes out a bit worse, but not to the extent that just comparing raw output would suggest. DXOMark's "sports ISO" score for he R5 vs R6 is like 3000 vs 3300. Assuming that's a highest-usable ISO based on some noise threshold, it's a fraction of a stop difference.

Brant, about your largest print comment. We've been conditioned to want 150+ DPI for images, but that only makes sense when at normal photo album / book type distances. As an image is printed larger, you need to be further away to view it. The image on a giant billboard is likely far less than 150 DPI. Requiring a large size at high resolution is a very niche market...

With 5K monitors being standard on iMacs for years at 5120x2880, or 14.7MP, and the R3 being 6000x4000 (according to https://petapixel.com/2021/07/28/can...-data-reveals/ ), it doesn't leave room for much horizontal cropping, or straightening, before you can't use a photo as a wallpaper image. Which shouldn't be the case for a brand-new professional camera. So in that sense, I agree, 24MP seems too low for 2021.