Spoken like a Tyke, you haven't got Yorkshire roots have you? Or just ambitious :-)
I was fine with my traditional Carradice Barley saddle bag for ages, then I decided I needed more space, occasionally.
Turned out that for me a single pannier was more useful. I still have the Carradice, it's hanging under a shelf, it's now essentially my storage area for gloves/buffs etc.
There are days when I'll buy snap at work and my change of clothes is at work, so no luggage is required. But when it is, the cheap pannier is my No1 choice.
BTW, the nearside panniers probably had more 'hammer'. Our lass cycles to the allotment on a nasty cheap Apollo, when she has chance. She used to use a rucksack, till I pointed out the spare pannier. She'll drop tools, veg, chemicals etc in it. Its been left outside overnight for days* and its still going strong.
(*Leaves it behind the gate at the side of the house and forgets to stick it in the shed - winds me up!!)
