I used to think that they were not worth trying, but in the last few years I have tried them.

I like the double dropped D that Neil Young uses for Cinnamon Girl, and open G. Open G is also used on banjo and dobro, and is favored by Keith Richards. I like to play around on slide guitar with open G a bit. Another good thing about these 2 tunings is that they don't put more tension on the neck than a standard tuning, and you still have some strings in standard tuning too.

I enjoy it when I do retune. I love the D open tuning as I learned to play a few songs such as Peter Frampton's "Penny for your Thoughts" by mistake one day many, many moons ago.

I am originally from Hawaii so in my younger days I learned a little slack key styles which utilizes open tunings as well as alternates. To conciously play certain style's it is a necessary evil. Maybe I will try it with the slide one day.

I am a huge fan of many alternative tunings, for the the very reasons you hinted at. It really gets me out of the 'box' I grew up in.
Joni Mitchell used a number of them.
I was lucky enough to see Michael Hedges just before he passed away....wow. Those were some great tunings.

These tunings open doors for me. I have a magician friend, who is also a musician. He introduced me to a tuning I have never heard before, but will post when I remember it!

DADGBD is of course popular, but there are infinite others.....DGDGBD...etc.
Getting your low E all the way down to C and going from there is also interesting. CGCGCE....Greg Brown comes to mind, as in "Brand New Dodge".

Great topic.
CL

Hey I like Standard and Drop D tuning

My best tuning is Standard or D tuning.Because I like how the notes or the chords sounds.