Thanks. I acknowledged that I understand that this is useful and important for some and that it's something that I would have to try to really form a hard comparative opinion on. I understand what the purpose of using stereo balance is. Maybe this discussion will make me more interested to give it a try, and I'll find that that it makes a meaningful difference for me...maybe I'll find it doesn't. Until I do try it, the value or benefit for me is unknown.
People can have different preferences and can process and react differently. It's perfectly valid for you to say that something helps or is a huge difference for you or even that it helps or is a huge difference for most people...that doesn't necessarily mean that the same is true or significant for me. For example, a comment above by @Wasnex was "it's far more important for everyone to have the ability to dial in "more me."" The operative part of that is "the ability", which also means the option to *not* have more me. I don't deny that anyone else finds benefit in having their own levels ride on top in their ears. I simply don't find that is a benefit for me. I prefer to have things blended and at fairly even levels because of the way my mind works; I am comfortable hearing and taking in a whole that's similar to what I imagine FOH is like as I play. I'm very mildly agnostic about the personal benefit of stereo balance because, in the mix that I'm completely accustomed to and satisfied with, I know and can hear what my part of that whole is, so going to balance is sort of a solution in search of a problem. Very different from what I'm aware that others do, for vocals, I prefer to hear everyone else at roughly the same level and then myself at a slightly lower level. My bass, I just want to be able to clearly hear it...not above everything else, just part of the whole that can be heard. It may or may not be the same as what other people do, but I very intentionally balance the overall level and mix of my ears with what bleeds through and what can be felt from FOH, my amp, and the overall stage sound. Having things more clearly separated or standing out can affect the way I play and sing. Because of the way my mind works, too much me in my ears (even though it's not what's in FOH) can cause me to pull back...not enough me can cause me to dig in more than I'd want or over-sing. Someone else can process differently and not react the same way.
