It seems we are getting hung up on this notion of size. Zero is not the “smallest” in absolute value, it represents a value as non existent regardless of size, sequence and series. Any unit recognized as existing can not be zero. This is perhaps more an existential question then one of math. If there were not things to count we would have no reason to create a symbol representing the absence of the countable things. We wouldn’t have a zero as a symbol for no value if we didn’t have things we place values upon.
Zero represents nothing to count. Zero is a symbol given to not counting. As soon as any other symbol shows up counting has taken place. You’ve recognized a thing and things as distinguishable from the absence of the thing and between things. It is sort of binary, zero or one. You’ve presented me with a range of an infinite set of numbers between 0 and 1 which are real numbers. Given this information, there are three values involved. A) No thing represented by zero (0) B) “a” thing represented by (1) where X is not equal to 1 and 1 is not equal to 0 And as a given C) there is an infinite subset of “somethings” between them N is not (0) AND n is not (1). I can count there is at least one thing between 0 and 1, N. All real numbers can be counted just not in an infinite sequence that is dependent on an infinite number of digits. There is/are N of them between 0 and 1. They can be counted in sequence as 0, N, 1. Where N can not be less then or equal to zero or equal to or more then 1.