I'm with Bob on this. One pocket is particularly unique regarding spots. It's much easier to stall or hold back your game in one hole. As Bob alluded, without the spot, you won't be [on the gold bar / on the stack / jacked up / hooked] every shot. You'll see a lot of flyers that would never happen in a "real" game. First, they'll get ahead and once they are playing on house money, then they'll just play in cruise control. And, if the disparity is more like 11-5 / 10-6, you really have no chance to win playing even. Zero. [If they are only 1, maybe 2 balls better, playing head-up might work for the "I'm going to get better" mindset. Everyone can get a ball or two roll in one game. But NOBODY gets a 5/6/7 ball roll. You're just riding your bike as fast as you can in a car race. No chance.]
There's no shame in playing/winning with a spot in one pocket. I've seen plenty of situations where pros are giving big spots to other pros. The skill/knowledge differential is that important in one pocket.
Just playing even for pride does happen a lot, though. But, IMO, pride is one of the things that has lost folks the most money/games in pool. Tied for top spots are: overestimating your skill level, not knowing when you're the fish and alcohol. ha!
-td