When I started out recording, omni and cardioid were pretty much the main choices (e.g. AKG C 451--do you want a CK 1 or a CK 2 with that? Neumann fet 80 series--do you want the KM 83 or the KM 84?). It was as if they were a Platonic dichotomy that defined the whole universe. I only learned that first-order patterns are actually a continuum or spectrum a while later. But I would still have to agree with "ilduclo" (above) that for beauty, spaciousness and just plain listening pleasure, omni was the pattern of choice as long as it wasn't "too much of a good thing."
I've also had my flings with supercardioid and figure-8 microphones--actually, supercardioids and I had a long, serious relationship.
In the past decade or so, after years of thinking that this wasn't an alternative worth taking seriously, I've acquired good single-diaphragm capsules with patterns between omni and cardioid. They are predominantly pressure transducers, with just some controlled amount of pressure gradient sensitivity mixed in. So they still have (to a corresponding degree) most of the roundness, smoothness and bass extension of good omnis, but they also let me put both capsules on a single mounting bar on a single, central stand or hanging fixture and get a stable (if not overly detailed) stereo image.
Often in life when you try to fulfill two opposing sets of criteria, you end up with disappointment all around. To my surprise this has not been this case with these capsules. The first time I used wide cardioids, the situation must have been exactly right because I got one of my best recordings in decades (a small ensemble at one end of a huge private library). I don't usually love my own recordings, and I am constantly asking myself why I do this at all, I am so frustrated. But in this instance the beauty and the clarity--both together and not fighting one another--was exactly what I want from a recording.
There are still times now when I record with omnis--mostly small ensembles in relatively dry but still well-balanced halls, where I can get the main pair in fairly close to the musicians. But I find that these in-between capsule types have become my "go-to" capsules, and I'm having more fun recording now than I was having for a number of years.
--best regards