8GB vs 16GB RAM for a Home Assistant NUC: 16GB is smart headroom, not overkill

8GB works for Home Assistant and a couple containers today, but Docker containers multiply fast. HA alone can eat 2-3GB with cameras or integrations, and adding Zigbee2MQTT, a database, or a small media server pushes you against the limit. A 16GB DDR4 kit costs only $30-40 and buys years of headroom without needing to upgrade again.