No preamp 'Balance' control?


Are preamps made without a Balance control? If so, can you live without control of balance (happily)? Depending on the recording, I make slight balance adjustments to lock everything in balance. Is this some sort of purist approach (if so, why not use a seperate volume control for each channel), or what's up with no balance control?
In advance, thanks!
louisl
My Pass X-1 Pre has dual volume controls that are turned up simultaneously, and you adjust the balance by turning one up or down individually. It works and sounds great. Sometimes I like to sit far off center in my rocking chair and I can still get a really good soundstage.
My preamps have always ahad a balance control, but I never use it. Those posters that don't have a balance control, How do you correct for imbalances? Do you just move one speaker back, forward, or to the sides?
Im a purist at heart. Before being able to afford audiophile quality gear...balance, bass, treble and the like were mandatory. After hearing what great equipment can do...I dont miss those controls one bit. If the recording is off a bit...big deal.
I would never consider a linestage/preamp without a balance control, preferably operated by remote control. Once you have used a remotely controlled balance that allows for minute balance changes, you will appreciate what that does to locking in the sound. It is particularly important with a phono setup because cartridge channel balance can be quite a bit off.

If it is done with a resistor ladder, and a logic circuit to set each channel separately, there is only one control per channel in the circuit (the same as a volume control without balance control).
I don't use the one in my secondary system and don't miss the balance control in my main system. I really don't know why such a device would be necessary if the system is properly setup. I suppose there may be installations where symmetry or other obsticles interfere with staging that one might wish for a balance control but that doesn't apply to me.