This is a debate that can go on for ever. It's clearly a case of not being able to please all of the people all of the time. I'm about to hit 60 but rather like the atmosphere of stand up gigs - depending on who's performing. I don't think I'd want to sit down still at a Bellowhead gig
but enjoy sitting down to listen to people like Martin Carthy or Karine Polwart. What I consider to be the best Show of Hands gig that I've been to was a stand up gig at the Exeter Phoenix.
I suppose the only real compromise is, as has been suggested earlier, to make sure that there is plenty of provision for people who can't, dont' want to or find it difficult, to stand. Life gets so complicated.....