For me, I believe in training both sides equally, but use them differently.
I will do strength drills equally on both sides and I will practice my techniques with both sides because I do not want to become one-dimensional. I should be able to throw a decent side kick from either leg.
However, since I want to continue to develop my body equally and my right side is already stronger while my left is faster, my right side will stay stronger and my left side will stay faster.
Because of this, what type of technique I use and what I use it for is influenced by which side is stronger or faster. Of course I can throw a "strong" or "fast" strike from either side and I can perform a technique from either side when I get an opening, but the fact is, for me, that one side is more effective at doing something that what the other is and I tend to keep certain techniques to one side unless I have a good reason not to.
How do you, as a TKD practitioner feel about this?
Do you prefer to train both sides of your body equally?
Do you prefer your strong side, or your weak side forward?
How often, and under what circumstances do you switch leads in sparring?
What do you teach your students (if any) about switching leads?
(It may also help to clarify if you're talking about a specific style of sparring.)
I think I answered the first two questions.
I prefer to have my strong side in back and my fast side in front because it compliments them. (Attacks from a lead hand/foot get to their targets faster while attacks from the back are stroger because they come from across your body.) I don't have any problem switching depending on the situation.
I will frequently switch leads in a sparring match depending on the position of the judges. The ATA only uses 3 judges and they are only allowed to score points they actually see hit the other guy. I try to change my lead so that my back is to two of the judges; that way the chances of them actually seeing the other guy's foot/fist hit my hogu are lessened. If for some reason I don't want to switch leads because of a strategy, I will use movement to put myself in certain positions.
As for my students, I tell them to play around with it and see what works for them while sparring in class. I do mention that switching leads is important to try to keep your opponent off guard. If you spar a guy for 90 seconds who doesn't change his lead leg, you start basing your tactics around what foot he has in front, what openings that gives you, and what techniques he uses from that position. If he changes that lead foot, that changes up where the openings are and probably what techniques he will use. So if you are constantly changing your stance, it is harder for your opponent to pick up a dependable pattern on you.
Just my .02