What makes a pedalboard practical rather than just exciting?

It is easy to build a pedalboard around fun sounds and then realise it is awkward to use in an actual set. Tap dancing, volume jumps, power issues, and unreadable settings can all become problems.

What makes a pedalboard genuinely practical for rehearsals and gigs? Fewer pedals, better ordering, loop switchers, labels, consistent levels, or choosing sounds that sit in the band rather than impress alone?