I really like both of these churches, their liturgies, chanting, etc. However, since these churches are so small, is Maronite a good "substitute" of sorts, since they too are oriental?

Actually, John, you can get an argument about whether the Maronites are Orientals. Strictly speaking, as there is no Oriental Orthodox counterpart to the Maronites, they are not and many place them and the Assyrians-Chaldeans as existing out there in two small categories each their own - neither Eastern nor Oriental. Others will tell you that the Maronites, being of similar liturgical descent as the Antiochene (Syriac) Churches, which are Oriental, should be classed as such.

Regardless, among the Orientals, you'll find considerably more differences than you will among the Eastern-Byzantine Churches - where language is the most notable.

Many years,

Neil

John,

Not to toot my own Church's horn, but the Syro-Malankara Church is Oriental and have Syriac/Indian chant, etc.. we aren't huge, but are 4 or 5 times larger than the Armenians or Coptic Catholics.