Subject: Re: So my question is…
"If you like index investing, you can access the smaller cap stocks by purchasing IJR."
And if you want small cap GROWTH investing, you can access that in IJT. Which has outperformed small caps (and MI screens, cough) for some time.

Portfolio Visualizer says they have almost the same returns. (Aug 2000 - Apr 2024)

IJR 9.23%  iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF
IJT 8.90%  iShares S&P Small-Cap 600 Growth ETF
IJS 9.13%  iShares S&P Small-Cap 600 Value ETF
SPY 7.33%  SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust

https://www.portfoliovisualize...

Although, since Jan 2009 SPY is best.
Also since Jan 2014, SPY beat the snot out of the others.