I've installed the head-unit and speakers in my car.  The sound is about 392.5 times better than it was before.  (The sub and amplifiers will take it 2547.7707006369426751592356687898 times better still)

I've panned the balance 1 notch to the right to help center the sound stage from my driver's seat.  Yes, this is a little selfish but I have made quite a time investment in the research and install of said stereo and I feel I am entitled.  Since the install I have noticed that my parking skills have suffered.  I have been conciously trying to park between the lines in the parking lot but always seem to be a little far to left or the right.

I have decided that this must be due to the increased clarity of my audio and the off-centeredness of the balance.  Now that the stereo separation is clear and defined, the proximity of the instruments are discernable and my brain is compensating for the attempt I've made with the balance controls to artificially push the sound a little to the left by panning slightly right (see the confusion this can cause?  the right speaker gets a little louder, theoretically placing the volumetric center slightly left). 

I've also had a cold and my ears are a little plugged, contributing to troubles with spacial orientation.

I have no time to prove my hypothesis so I will instead skip that step and state this as fact.