I used to bring these points up in the WWYD's, and an awful lot of people told me it didn't matter. and they are somewhat right . It doesn't much matter, when playing one of the top 10 in the world , but it sure does matter playing the majority of the one pocket players who sometimes miss. I can think of an example, from a shot Dennis O made , right off the top of my head.
I am sure there are many more.
The opponent left him dead straight in and he had to go long rail first to come out 1/8th inch to make the object ball in the corner 2 feet away , then went 2 feet with follow and either got a kiss or something weird happened, to the bottom rail, for position on a ball ,I don't think anyone thought he could get on.
After he made it , everyone said you just can't give up any shots no matter how tough , because they make them , baloney. I think Dennis shot the sucker shot and just happened to hit it great. If I was going in the same pool room as he was , I would let him shoot it for money every few days {of course he isn't dumb enough to go for that} but you know what I mean.
It was a freak shot,
He made it, and I think he ran out , but I am giving that shot up, all day long, every day, to anyone who hasn't proven to me, they can make it consistently.