Thanks for that detailed response Chris. My takeaway is that to my questions you are basically saying "YES- but it depends." That makes sense.

Since you referenced the boxes e.g., if it's a standard 12 bar (E) blues (index at 12 1st box penta) would I ever (would you ever) slide down 3 frets and play the same exact shape (1st penta) box shape starting at the 9th fret (C#/Db)? Until now, for E blues, I start my pattern at fret 12 (or 1st position.) Since I know all 5 shapes well, I can play up and down the neck fwd and backwards. I can link them and also skip around.

I have only been going down 3 frets when it is a MAJOR progression since that almost always sounds right since that wil contain the same notes as the major scale (minus the 4th and 7th degrees.) The notes are not all the same when going from fret 12 E "MINOR" penta, then sliding down to C#. Different notes.

Thanks!