The Kenny Aronoff thing was actually because of John Mellencamp (then John (Johnny) Cougar) wanting him to ONLY have a 4 piece kit. He wanted that specific look on stage back then.
After a while, Kenny added the 10" tom, but put it lower to "keep the 4 piece look" & so John Cougar wouldn't notice.
That's what I read in MD years ago. I remembered it because JC always seemed really hard to work for.
I think he added a second floor tom directly behind the first one after a while also.
David Robinson from the Cars had a deep 14, and then a 10x14 over his bass drum because it fit better. He had that on a couple kits.
I use 3 floor toms. I got the idea after seeing video of Papa Joe years ago. Tried it, liked it a lot, and have hauled the extra drum ever since haha!
It's not impractical for my situations.
I had 2 on each side for a while also, but I started to go to my left too much, and then started to think, "well I gotta use the other drums" while I was playing, which takes your mind off the music. I went back to 3 and just use them however feels natural.
I have specific parts in songs that are easier to do with a drum on that side as well. I can do the parts without the extra drum, but it's nicer, and sounds cooler with it.
My 2nd ft (to my right) is not directly behind the first one, and I don't have to turn my body to hit it. I don't use a bunch of cymbals, so it works out for space and all that.