I know it's redundant. The use of both inputs is for "safety" reasons. I have both cables and my in-ear monitoring cable attached to one another. If I don't connect the 1/4" cable, it's all over the place with the amount of jumping and careening we all do. I don't want it banging into the bass. When I switch to my Warwick or Hamer, I don't care if the 5 pin moves around and bangs into them, although perhaps I should. A cable is a much lesser expense than a dinged up body that needs to be refinished. Also, I don't have a rackmount power supply, unfortunately, and sometimes we have VERY quick turnaround times when we are an opening act. It's one less cable I have to fool with. I may re-think all this, given that the chance of me having to replace a 1/4" input jack only increases with use (and time.) I guess right now I'm just being lazy.
And no, I don't take it with me on breaks, but I don't leave the room!
