Running hardware through a console I totally agree with you on that approach and it's what I do. It's a little different ITB though, there's no channel limit.

 

It illustrates exactly why most samples are created as stereo files. Again, it is easy consistency. If you do everything as stereo when making the pack, there are no file conversions necessary. It isn't "Lazy", but it's the easiest way to do the sampling. It takes out the step of selecting mono or stereo for every file and checking to make sure they are all correct. Also, if you are sampling a device and want to auto-sample the entire keyboard worth of 88 samples; are you going to stop your Auto-sampler or Sample Robot at C1 to record the lower notes as Mono? Again, more work and more opportunity for there to be mistakes.

If done as stereo, people are free to convert them to whatever file type they like. Nothing is being done to accommodate anyone's specific workflow or file storage. They aren't trying to bulk up sample packs this way, either. They have better ways to do that to make it look like the customer is getting more for their money. Some users may even skip buying a pack, if it was all Mono files. Those are the people who buy them.