Remember that arteries really don't clog up. This is a very powerful mental narrative.. but it just doesn't happen. The cellular layer of the arteries, the Endothelium, is amazingly complex.. and has a flurry barrier layer called the Glycocalix which wasn't even known of when all of this was first mooted. The idea that bits of fatty stuff just stick to artery walls is ludicrous.
The idea that things (including the small dense LDL types, but also smoke particles, glucose and other damaging things) may damage this lining and cause a clotting response which can turn into a plaque if it's just happening more often than we can heal... Well, that makes more sense to me anyway.