Headphones left flat on a desk get knocked off it, sat on, and slowly bent out of shape by whatever gets stacked on top of them. A stand costs one small square of desk and removes all three problems.
The arc is wide enough that the headband rests along its length instead of being pinched at a single point, which is what deforms the padding over a year of daily use.
Wide arc supports the headband along its length
Weighted base stays put when you lift the headphones off
