The thing about the .22 is that you will probably carry it if for no other reason than it is small and comfortable. The .44 Special left at home because it is too big to carry on a hot day is not going to do one much good.
I once faced 8 guys with my 22 revolver...maybe they didn’t realize it was a 22, or maybe they couldn’t do math real well, or maybe no one wanted to be first at getting shot in the nose with a 22...in any case, I left without shooting a round. Having a gun you’ve fired 10,000 rounds thru is a nice feeling even if it is too small.
And it IS too small for self defense. Not all bad guys quit. My S&W Model 60 is smaller than my 22, easier to hide, and even foregoing the .357 for the .38+P, pushes a 158 grain bullet at 1000 fps. For home defense, I prefer a .44, but it is kind of hard to conceal on one’s person...