bystander :
Exactly how close do you consider normal distance? 27" monitors seem very comfortable to me at what I consider a normal distance (about 2' from me).
About arm's length from the monitor, right now I'm using a 20" monitor at 1600x1200 with a second lower res 20". I've used some bigger monitors but don't like that much unless it's for watching movies. Like keyboards and mice though, picking a monitor is a very person to person thing.
What I don't think should be done though is buying a larger monitor just because. Going from 24 to a larger monitor is not always an "upgrade". Larger monitors does not usually equal an upgrade.
Since the OP clarified what he is using the setup for, the larger screens would have benefits for him. I've never had two or 3 monitors this size that I used myself for long periods of time, I'd pick 2 27" monitors myself though. I don't mind smaller text and 30" monitors are huge sitting there.