I agree with Jackaroe completely. I was at the Went for the glowstick war during Hood and also 12/30/97. Both were magical, spontaneous events. Well, at least the one at the Went was spontaneous. Now I find myself getting anxious when most glowstick wars start because I keep hoping something doesn't wind up hitting one of the band members. I also think it distracts the band because they are worried about getting pelted. I distinctly remember this past Fall in Philly where one landed at Mike's feet and he was visibly taken out of the jam. He had been nodding his head along, clearly lost in the music but when the glowstick hit, you could see it distracted him and he shifted his position. I guess I don't really have a problem with them if everyone makes the effort to keep them from the stage, but a lot of times it looks like people throw some of them directly at the satge. It's interesting because they will usually start toward the back of the floor but inevitably creep forward toward the stage.
I guess I'm old and shitty, but I know I wouldn't want a bunch of stuff being hurled at me if I was standing in the middle of 20,000 people.