I have certainly fished ponds (that also had bluegill) where longear were a VERY significant portion of the sunfish population I caught. And they are pretty, but it's like catching bluegill from a stunted population.
Lots of hybridization with bluegill as well (makes from some pretty fish sometimes though). In natural lakes in the Mississippi drainage that I've fished (in northeast Louisiana), I can't think of a more significantly observed hybrid than longer x bluegill.
I would think they are absolutely fine if your sunfish are just to provide forage for your predators, but I would share in your concern with them (along with the bluegill) crowding out the redbreast due to reproduction.
