I get why the band would drop a song if that were the case, though. If the fans are really getting into every song, and then you play one and you get bored looks from most of the crowd, I get why they would be turned off by that and want to not play it anymore. Sure, it pleases the .0001% of the diehards who are there that want to hear it, but it's not worth it to have a nightly buzzkill in the set.
I disagree. Given the fact that you're talking about one or two songs at most in a setlist of that nature, they should be willing to include them for those diehards. At the very least, it will introduce songs to the audience that they might never otherwise be made aware of. Had that been the attitude, then Another Won and Raise the Knife wouldn't have been on Score, and there's plenty of fans that discovered those songs because of that live release, if not having seen the songs in person. As long as the songs are properly introduced, it should be something that most fans (aside from the casual fans) will find of interest.
Even then, just because people sit/stand with blank expressions on their faces isn't necessarily a bad thing - that's pretty much going to be the general reaction of most people upon hearing a song they're not familiar with for the first time. Since they're not familiar with the song, they're concentrating on the song itself to discover it.
And for those who are genuinely not interested in hearing a rare cut they don't know, so what? How many fans use the typical ballad or instrument solo as an opportunity for a piss break? Why should playing a rare cut be any different?
Scotty, thanks for pushing for the rare cuts. As long as JP knows that there is deep (albeit small) appreciation, there is always hope for the occasional rare gem.
As a diehard who's seen as many shows as I have, you know I will. Funny thing - during that same conversation, JP even made a passing remark that it might be interesting if he had me write a future setlist. It goes without saying I'd jump at the chance, but I know he wasn't serious and that it'll never happen.