Thoughts on big time signatures...

So I notice a lot of modern scores, instead of having a time signature in each instruments' part, will have a large one in between families of instruments (in something like an orchestral score) or maybe just one large one at the top of a smaller score, or one large one stretching across both staves in a piano score (rather than one each for treble and bass). Ligeti, Feldman and Gorecki do this. What's the reason for it? Just to unclutter the page? I'm thinking of adopting it, cos it looks cool.

I've wondered this.. because it DOES look cool.

its mostly for orchestra scores and what not... just makes it easier for a conductor to see what time signature they're in, especially if its a piece that switches Time signatures frequently...

... no real tactical difference... just preference