I think LCR is better as a starting point and guiding principle than as a dogma. If the verse works hard-panned, but the chorus doesn't, then move some stuff when the chorus hits. And if the LCR mix doesn't work at all in mono, and you care about mono, don't LCR.
I pan fairly decisively. But I think there are maybe five positions rather than three. And for the most part, I don't care about mono. It's 2015.