mmmm im sure patching in a panel is fine on a normal car and plenty strong enough but for a decent car or RS or similar collectors car, i still advocate the complete replacement with an OE spec new panel.

eg when i worked on my rs1800 fez and did a part resto, I replaced the whole passenger front floor pan rather than bodge it with patches, same with the front wings that had rotted out at the bottom. sure the repairs would have been invisible under the body kit, but IMO its still a repair rather than a replacement with new.

maybe i have stronger bufty tendancies than most