I agree with you a bit that The Sopranos are a bit larger-than-life compared to other families. But I think it's about the mandate and artistic license of the show. We have no idea what the in-universe NY families were like; we only see the Lupertazzis a little and the rest are totally absent.

And compared to Gomorrah - apples and bowling balls. Sopranos has a balance of poignancy and humor, the sacred and the propane. Gomorrah is just bleak bleak bleak with no respite, and doesn't have much aspirations to probe the human condition, just portray the unfolding of various drug dealing capers.

In the grand scheme I think the Soprano family is more-or-less like any old family from outside NY, except their geographical proximity and close personal relationships of several members elevates them somewhat. But you're right, for a small family/glorified crew, they are very scrappy. That word plucky, is that what it means?