Your reason for asking this question may be gone now (not sure), but it's still a valid question. Some folks just don't enjoy lining up cones and prefer targeted AoEs or PBAoEs.
The sets do vary quite a bit. Setting aside nukes, Dark Blast is dependent upon cones for its AoE, and as Gemini_2099 pointed out, Assault Rifle really would be much weaker if you didn't take the cones. Psychic Blast's cone is the better of its two non-nuke AoEs, and not taking it would cut into your AoE quite a bit. I also find that Archery's cone is the better of the two non-nuke AoEs in that set (or the least annoying, anyway). Sonic's only real damaging AoE is a cone.
Other sets don't rely on cones so much, or the other AoE attacks in the set are "good enough" without the cone attack. Radiation offers a cone, a targeted AoE, and a PBAoE. I find that cone skippable, particularly with the knockback aspect. I also find Dual Pistols, Fire, and Ice to have cones I'm comfortable skipping. My main is a Ice/Cold corruptor, and I've never felt I needed Frost Breath for adequate AoE on him. Your mileage may vary, of course.
And Electric's got no cone at all.
I really appreciate your thorough answer. It's essentially EXACTLY what I was looking for. Thank you Pattern.
The sets do vary quite a bit. Setting aside nukes, Dark Blast is dependent upon cones for its AoE, and as Gemini_2099 pointed out, Assault Rifle really would be much weaker if you didn't take the cones. Psychic Blast's cone is the better of its two non-nuke AoEs, and not taking it would cut into your AoE quite a bit. I also find that Archery's cone is the better of the two non-nuke AoEs in that set (or the least annoying, anyway). Sonic's only real damaging AoE is a cone.
Other sets don't rely on cones so much, or the other AoE attacks in the set are "good enough" without the cone attack. Radiation offers a cone, a targeted AoE, and a PBAoE. I find that cone skippable, particularly with the knockback aspect. I also find Dual Pistols, Fire, and Ice to have cones I'm comfortable skipping. My main is a Ice/Cold corruptor, and I've never felt I needed Frost Breath for adequate AoE on him. Your mileage may vary, of course.
And Electric's got no cone at all.