I would think channel catfish are more studied than bass. It is the backbone of 100 million dollar aquaculture indistry in Ark and Miss. THey have plenty of studies on diets of channels. Other catfish are not as researched. What you may not realize is funding. Who will fund the study for the predator habits of catfish species to balance a "bream pond"?
It is easy for folks to say well they attacked my spinnerbait so they will eat live fish. Sure they will, but in ponds where folks manage the catfish the bluegill are usually stunted with 1,000 of 4-5 inch bluegill. Now if you do not feed cats and put in enough catfish they will eliminate all the bluegill. Heck get some one on the board to voulnteer a pond and you can approach in a scintific manner and see what the stocking of certain number of bluegill and certain number of a particular catfish species will result in a few years, otherwise a college will not take on this research.
I know for a fact the bass and bluegill combo is not optimal, but like you said it is the easiest there is. LIke I always say it is about your goals.
