If your workflow allows the time, the tse 17, shift-stitched, is superior in my experience. However, this approach is cumbersome at best when combining shots where people are moving about or the light is changing.
One must also remember that a minimum of 3 zones are required for the full width shift-stitch approach.
Additionally, this is asking for plenty of annoyance if shifting the lens instead of shifting the body.
Lastly, I used your idea 'wide lens, level, crop as needed for final composition' for several years before the tse 17 existed. The canon 11-24 didn't exist either so it was the Sigma 12-24 did that job when I needed to work quickly and didn't have time to shift-stitch the 24 tse.
I did use it as a full frame image as well sometimes which would usually be something like a stairwell or atrium type of space with people moving through. I literally never used it for any focal length other than widest though.