Speaking for live shows . . . I use the pan settings to give the feeling of a live band and how they stack up on the stage and depending on how far apart my PA speakers are set the stero/panning effect is heard by more than just a couple of audience members. Now whether the audience care about the settings or not is another topic in itself. Personally I doubt it, but it's just one of those little quirks that most musicians deal with, you know, looking for the best sound possible.

Later,