That would serve a totally different purpose than Volume Lock, and would mean that it also makes sense to add Bass Lock, Treble Lock, PEQ Gain Lock, Input Trim Gain Lock and so on. Sorry, we won't do that.

Meanwhile this might help a bit, DAC Manual page 28:

Lock UI

OFF, Remote, Keys, Keys+Remote. Locks the keys on the device (Keys), the remote control (Remote) or both (Keys+Remote). Only VOLUME remains operable. To unlock, press and hold encoder 1.

I'll take this a step further and state that I can't remember a single time ever when I wanted to pan a stereo mix.

What I can remember is countless times when the stereo image seemed strange and I suddenly realize that the stereo pan been changed by accident in for example TotalMix (and I never know how it happend).

I don't expect this to ever change, but I'm pretty sure this function caused more trouble than it helped out (I'm not talking about RME products but the stereo balance/pan function in all products..), but as always, I might be wrong...

The amount of times I anticipate wanting to pan the output or have it be anything other than center in the next 10 years would be ZERO. As I'm getting to know the UI of this device, I've already accidentally panned it from center a few times.

I don't think a pan lock was an unreasonable request.

Assuming that it makes the case for everything to have a lock was not a very well thought out comment in my opinion. I think volume and pan lock are equally important and actually, I would use the pan lock 100% of the time and volume lock never because I like to adjust the volume of the headphones as needed.

Adjusting the panning is good for troubleshooting at best. I wouldn't even care if there was no pan knob.

Yes. Pan/Balance, same thing in my book. It would be nice to lock it wherever one prefers it to be set.

If u never use it, why would u accidentally adjust it? I dont see the point in this.

Its no reason to "go fuck yourself". Personally I just think the request was kind of far fetched. Im a user of pan/balance as I often want to scew the soundimage to my listening position. It would be better to have an option there the device is loaded with a user defined default state(as opposed to last used settings) on startup. Preferably a switch in the Setups menu like: Always load this setup on startup ON/OFF/Save current setup. You could have safe volume, balance to center and whatnot.

You could accidentally hit the wrong button on the remote, but you would see on the screen that you are in the balance menu. On the device itself its hidden in the volume menu. Plus you have ears to tell if sound is wrong. Thats what I mean by "far fetched". Like the "problem to a solution".