In playing the scale itself, it is just an alternate way to play it. But in the context of playing a song or a lick, it might make more sense to play the notes across the fretboard if the next thing you do is an open chord, or some note near that area. Alternatively, the next notes of the lick might be high on the fretboard, so being able to play the scale "in different directions" is a good thing. You would tend to use the one that is going to leave you where you want to be next.

It's like playing pool, if you have ever done that. Where you let the que ball end up after the shot is almost as important as the shot itself.