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IMHO If you need space, go for space! If you need RAM, go for RAM.
8GB RAM is a minimum on todays setup, but if you don't use any memory hungry software anyways, it's a waste to upgrade to 16GB.

Also, 256GB data is a lot, you can transfer data to an external drive, NAS +++, you'll always have room for data.
You cannot upgrade the RAM - EVER, but you can expand the storage through external devices / cloud etc.

In any case, go for what is needed now and throughout the computers life-span (7-8 years). But if you're not going to run a couple of virtual computers on your Mac, the 8GB is PLENTY!
 
I have 8GB and it´s quite horrible for my professional needs. I also opted for the 128GB SSD so additional storage is needed for a lot of things. Down the line getting extra storage will be cheap and easy. Fixing the RAM is a no-go 4 ever.. You can put an SDXC card in the reader and have 256GB extra storage for a lot less than what apple charge you for it. And for most files the difference between 150MB/s or 1500MB/s is hardly noticeable when open or saving them.. 150MB/s is still 50x over whats needed to open a typical office document in 1sec anyway..

If you need the machine for a few years then 16GB is the way to go, since that will never be upgradable. Ever.
 
I have 8GB and it´s quite horrible for my professional needs. I also opted for the 128GB SSD so additional storage is needed for a lot of things. Down the line getting extra storage will be cheap and easy. Fixing the RAM is a no-go 4 ever.. You can put an SDXC card in the reader and have 256GB extra storage for a lot less than what apple charge you for it. And for most files the difference between 150MB/s or 1500MB/s is hardly noticeable when open or saving them.. 150MB/s is still 50x over whats needed to open a typical office document in 1sec anyway..

If you need the machine for a few years then 16GB is the way to go, since that will never be upgradable. Ever.
But OP says:
Currently I have 8GB and a 256 SSD installed. I rarely do some audio or picture editing. No video editing. I'd like more storage. I don't think I run into memory problems but I don't know what the OS will require to run optimally in 2-3 years.

He'd like more storage, and in his position I don't think he'd ever need more than 4GB of RAM. The OS++ will probably some time in the future consume up to 2GB RAM, probably not more.
 
But OP says:

He'd like more storage, and in his position I don't think he'd ever need more than 4GB of RAM. The OS++ will probably some time in the future consume up to 2GB RAM, probably not more.

This is my rMBP 2015 with 8GB of ram with basically nothing but a few tabs in Safari open..
If I want to run anything serous I have to quit Safari first to avoid problems.
If I open Bridge or Photoshop then the memory will go into red and the machine will freeze.

Given OP don't use these programs that will not be a problem, but in 2-3 years OS X and Safari might eat 20-30% more and then you basically can't even open lightweight apps w/o trouble..

I also have a 2012 Mini with 16GB and it never runs out of memory no mater what I trow at it..
The mini will probably still run fine in 5 years but my brand new 2015 MBP suck already.. :)
 

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This is my rMBP 2015 with 8GB of ram with basically nothing but a few tabs in Safari open..
If I want to run anything serous I have to quit Safari first to avoid problems.
If I open Bridge or Photoshop then the memory will go into red and the machine will freeze.

Given OP don't use these programs that will not be a problem, but in 2-3 years OS X and Safari might eat 20-30% more and then you basically can't even open lightweight apps w/o trouble..

I also have a 2012 Mini with 16GB and it never runs out of memory no mater what I trow at it..
The mini will probably still run fine in 5 years but my brand new 2015 MBP suck already.. :)

What have you got open there?? I have currently nine tabs open in and safari is using 250-300MB of RAM.

True using adblock and click to flash and then seeing how it looks.....
 
This is my rMBP 2015 with 8GB of ram with basically nothing but a few tabs in Safari open..
If I want to run anything serous I have to quit Safari first to avoid problems.
If I open Bridge or Photoshop then the memory will go into red and the machine will freeze.

Given OP don't use these programs that will not be a problem, but in 2-3 years OS X and Safari might eat 20-30% more and then you basically can't even open lightweight apps w/o trouble..

I also have a 2012 Mini with 16GB and it never runs out of memory no mater what I trow at it..
The mini will probably still run fine in 5 years but my brand new 2015 MBP suck already.. :)

Memory doesn't really work in the way you describe it. If your memory is going into the red and freezing just by opening bridge or photoshop, you have other problems. I had zero memory issues on a 4gb 2012 MBA but when I had enough apps open, it would slow down. With 8gb of ram on a rMBP, it's really hard to get this system to bog down memory-wise. This is my ram usage with tons of apps open and a youtube video streaming on an external monitor, and time machine is running a backup. No difference in performance between all this and only having one app open.

ramming%20around.jpg
 
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