Bulb pans are just shallow, wide pots. The plastic ones are easiest to find but I did find one place in Central Ohio that has the clay ones...I drive 40 mins to get them. I have to put in my order early in the year or I end up not being able to get what I need...they sell out fast. You'll see a clay one in the pics below. Wide, straight sides, and much more shallow than the standard clay pots. I get my plastic ones from
Kelley's Korner Orchid Supplies.
So right you are when it comes to plants that have a wider leaf span and/or those that tend to sprawl...like my maxima alba (pic below). However, for upright growers...the taller pots can save a good deal of shelf space. The pics are not perfect examples of what I'm talking about because these are my larger ones and once a plant gets to the 8" size, I try to use the clay bulb pans. But, my 6" and lower(Calistoglossa a great example)...I do tend to use the regular clay pots about 50% of the time. See example...the upright growth habit...I can fit more of those taller pots and w/adjustments made by filling the lower space w/something like a net pot...it makes for fitting more on my shelves.
Examples --
C maxima - this is a 12" bulb pan but if I had to use a regular clay pot, the actual leaves don't extend much beyond the pot so that equals less foot print on the shelf. This one is due for a divide. Upright growers work great in regular clay pots but, yes, you have to do something at the roots to avoid "dead" spots down in there.
C Bow Bells - also bulb pan but another upright grower
C Calistoglossa - upright grower
Ang viguieri - 4" regular clay pot and, it may not look like it but, that pot is chock-full of roots. It grows only a few from the base but they wind and wind around inside that pot - big, thick, fat roots, and they are kind of orange and warty. If it were in a shallow pot then I'd need a lot more foot print to house this on the shelf.
Hybrid Mode
