if your levels are more than 2db or so off I don't think you're preserving the stereo image, I think you're ruining it. instead of being able to hear the music float between your speakers the sound will be weighted more to one side completely throwing off the imaging and balance.
are your mics matched that closely? Are you sure it's the mic configuration and not your actual mics that is causing this?
I don't know any tapers that just leave them as is when the levels are off, everyone I know tries to match as closely as possible. Anything more than 2db difference will be noticeable and I find it to be very distracting.
the sound engineer is not intentionally "weighting" one side of the room more than the other, so again, I don't think you're really preserving an accurate representation of how the room sounded that night.
**edit**
I see now that you are talking about being waaaaay off center. first recommendation is to bring a clamp and clamp to a center stand if you're running late. if that's not possible, run x/y and try and get the levels close. If you are waaaaay off center (like the SS show) you might be better off running a "stack" tape. That is, center yourself on one of the stacks and use the stereo configuration of your choice.