I believe that consistency is important and it is important for journals to accept your preferred name if at all possible.

I go by my middle name and it is important to keep it that way for me. One reason is that my first name is the same as my father and we have the same middle initial. Thus, there would be confusion if I published under my first name or just my initials. Even an ORCiD could be confusing if I linked by initials (although all those pharmacology papers might help my pub record ;-).

At least I don't get the confusion with my grandfather's pubs that my brother gets.

There is an additional consideration for women. When I got married, someone asked my wife if she was going to change her name. She replied,"Why should I? I have more publications that he does."

I believe that consistency is important and it is important for journals to accept your preferred name if at all possible.

I go by my middle name and it is important to keep it that way for me. One reason is that my first name is the same as my father and we have the same middle initial. Thus, there would be confusion if I published under my first name or just my initials. Even an ORCiD could be confusing if I linked by initials (although all those pharmacology papers might help my pub record ;-).

At least I don't get the confusion with my grandfather's pubs that my brother gets.

There is an additional consideration for women. When I got married, someone asked my wife if she was going to change her name. She replied,"Why should I? I have more publications than he does."