Hmm, I was trying to avoid my head filling the tube before my shaft, and "plugging" the tube. My head is a bit more than 6" around, and according to some charts I'm supposed to use a tube with 2" or more diameter, what's the problem with having such a large tube? as long as it expands? I don't really care about "packing" a tube..
I mentioned before that the big man's tube is an imposing tube to some with its 2.79" diameter even a 6" girth won't fill that thing without problem. The balls will definitely get sucked in at unexpected times. Rather painful, but you get over it comes with the territory. Most beginner size tubes are 1.75-2.25, anyone with a 6" girth should be 2+ like you mentioned. Having a larger tube than recommended can only cause for a bad experience in the beginning stages. I progressed quickly thru tubes and continued going bigger until I couldn't pack it cock only anymore. It's what I used as my gauge for success if you will. THe time it takes to pack a tube gets shorter and shorter will indicate its time for an upgrade. You would be selling yourself short to not want to pack a tube because that's when all the fun starts!
Not having a gauge I have found in many of My trainees has caused them to not gain as fast as the others who do. You can't always feel the changes in pressure but with a gauge you can determine what pressures feel good to you, which are too light, which are too much, what your max out is. Pumping without a gauge is like weight lifting without knowing how much weight you are lifting. Just knowing that one is heavier than the other isn't enough because you will eventually get stronger but you never really know how much and how far you have really progressed.
I've also noticed that the guys who start this out "half way" shelf their plans for growing within 2 weeks. Those that learn what they need, get what they need, and devote time and effort stick with it longer. I have seen atypical things happen in both circumstances so don't hold that as gospel.
Take this serious and you will get serious results.