So, let's say you start out with the snare panned 20%...
 
You want plenty of crack on the snare and as the mix comes up around it, you keep wanting more.
 
There are odd times when the Snare starts to drive into the red.
 
You can give yourself more volume/head room by centering the pan.
 
Couldn't you develop a plugin that centered the sound when it was louder only? Like a compressor, but when triggered, instead of reducing the signal, it panned it more center?