I will certainly agree that shoelaces are rather too small to work well as prussiks.
If "too small" means "too short" - I disagree. On my hiking boots they are almost 2 feet long - more than enough. Also one can improvise a lacing technique to have more cordage stored on your boots or to use less cordage for lacing when needed.
See here, for example.
"too small" refers to diameter, not length. Cordage selected for prussiks used with the typical 10mm or so diameter climbing rope will usually be about 6mm in diameter. There is wiggle room for variation, but the diameter of the typical shoelace would be difficult to manipulate if tied in a prussik and of course it would be prone to wearing through and breakage. But in a dire emergency.......
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