I carry the 22mag and also have the 22lr cylinder for it. I guess I bought a real peach of a used gun because at 10 yards I can put them in the head of a silhouette target EVERYTIME ALL DAY, and I am not that great a marksman. The 22mag is a good thing to bring to a knife fight or to use if you can't carry a gun. The bark and the bite would make a reasonable person think twice about continuing an attack, the only problem is might be attacked by an unreasonable person. I have the 1 5/8" barrel and I put a set of black widow grips on it. Those grips DO NOT print in my pocket and do not appreciably effect the pockets i can carry in. They do make the gun much easier and faster to get into action and fire. They help improve accuracy in my big hands as well. Like everyone says, there are better options in a semi auto, but there is nothing else in a revolver in this size class. I more or less consider that against a determined adversary, it would require a CNS shot to stop some one, but I do carry mine occasionally when nothing else will do. I prefer my NAA 32acp, but if you got to have a revolver, I do consider the 22mag MUCH better than a knife, just not as good as a gun. Actually, if you carry a 22mag, you would be well advised to also carry a good knife also just in case the 22mag does not make a big enough impression, or depression as the case may be.
All said and done, I have pocket guns in 32acp, 9mm, 40S&W, 357SIG, and 45acp. I will have one of the larger calibers if I really expect trouble, but I still find occasions to carry my little 22mag as a backup or sometimes as a solo gun. I have no plans to get rid of my 22mag either (my son won't let me, he thinks its his gun when we go to the range.)
Roll Tide