I've got shotguns with pads and guns without. The only real advantage I see with them is on a dedicated waterfowling gun. About 99% of the time you've got the butt down on some wet surface (boat, pitblind, mud, etc) and the pad protects the stock wood from getting into the water plus gives it a little traction while it's sitting there.

Destry

Out there at the crossroads molding the devil's bullets. - Tom Waits