Agreed, most melodies and scale patterns are actually easier to find and play in standard tuning, which is probably why most of us return to that having dabbled with open tunings. Open G and open D are great for slide playing of course, but if you want to play ragtime and country blues, then it really only works in standard (plus dropped D) tuning. I have to say I quite liked DGDGBbD tuning years back, though it is rather limiting, and that too works well for five string banjo.