What's the crime in opening chokes a little?? I don't get it. I routinely have chokes 'tuned' on competition guns. And I do it on hunting guns too. I want my guns to shoot perfect patterns. I just don't get it. Why is it so important for these guns to have virgin barrels? Some of them don't shoot all that great from the factory and a good barrel man can sometimes do wonders with what otherwise is mediocre or even poor.
In my opinion there is no crime in opening chokes if done correctly. That said there is a real value in the market for leaving things as original. I doubt that bias will ever change.
I have not had the need to open chokes, but would if required.
In answer to the original question: I choose to shoot Skeet/Modified over a pointing dog. Often using spreader loads through that. I often shoot CYL/CYL with my hand me down hammer gun. For distant shoot (30-45 yards for me) I shoot IC/MOD, but that is rare.