creating an odd (but understandable) asymmetric effect?

Yeah, it works out really well for me, because I never connect the headphones to something in the "center", whether I'm using a portable or whether I'm plugging into my PC. If a portable, it's always in a pocket or on the side of my belt, so the left-hand orientation of the cord is perfect. If on the PC, I run the cord to the left of the keyboard, and the orientation works well to keep the cord out of the way as I type.