Differeent fingering patterns allow you to come up with different melodic ideas, and having all the shapes down means that no matter where you are on the fretboard you can get to a right note easily. Of course the shapes alll utilise the same notes (though higher up the fretboards you will get higher versions) but they really do alter what you play. Try playing a solo using only the one pattern, then try it using all different patters and you will find it is much more interesting, because you don't stick to the same shapes. I think this is what you mean, but I don't know...