Speaking for myself, 99% of what I post are panoramas and if this "panoramas are less popular" statement is correct it may expain why none of my photos have made POD or POW despite many other SP members of people telling me they should.
I love panoramas and think if someone doesn't take time to view them then it's their loss. Josh can attest to my addiction to panoramas. If you take a look through my photos, most of them are and oddly enough, most of my 30 highest score photos are my photos that are not panoramas. This disgusts me a little. Others' panoramic shots are what really make me drool about climbing a mountain or heading into a new place.
Then again though, I HATE vertical shots. Why anyone takes these is beyond me and I honestly never take the time to look at these so I guess I can't complain about people not taking the time to look at my panos...
IMO, summit photos that are not panoramas should be outlawed, unless it's a zoom shot of a single peak in the distance...people will always want to know what is just off to the left or right from the summit.
Now shots in valleys or at lakes IMO are equally as good as a single shot or a panorama.
Just my 2 cents...Josh, you should keep posting panoramas. Don't make mrchad and I be the only ones!