Presently, I am running the 5" backing plate with the 6.5" LCM pads...it works just fine and it's nice to not have the backing plate right up to the edge of the pad.
Tom P., I completely agree with you about not having the plate all the way up to the edge of the pad. I kept ripping pads the other way. These LC pads seem a lot better made than the others I was using. Live and learn I guess.