For RP, I do not see any difference between 14 and 16, aka 2 or 3.

It's a mechanical/crunch consideration only.

Minmax/Powergame/optimization, these are not bad words to me. These are all saying the same thing.

'I am doing this for how it interacts with the rules.'

A +1 difference in your primary attribute is not worth any RP concern.

I'm a smart Orc, is as true at 14, as it is 16.