Joseph. The practical difference (at least for me) is that if I would need to cook up an elaborate story each and every time, I will eventually tire. I just know that a time will come when I won’t have the mental energy to deal with it.
If all I need to do is disregard it, by saying to myself that I am not in a position to judge the person simply because I don’t know the circumstances and the whole story, this will allow me to keep up this middah throughout the rest of my life (hopefully).