Make sure the option to always generate 32bit gim's in rcoedit options isn't enabled. It should be on automatically detect what gim it needs. This should help with resources.

217x272 is pretty big I wouldn't use that big of an icon if you're using all the 8 icons. Also try using 32bit bmp's in case you aren't already, some people try to use png's but I've noticed these take up more resources.