I like working with someone for short stints on a problem - like... perhaps an hour or two per week. But... that's not 'pair programming' so much as 'talk through a problem, work out some ideas... or just "collaboration". I don't think I've ever seen some place where 'pair programming' was a 30-40 hr/week norm, and I'm not really sure it could be for almost anyone, as it's going to require a lot of synced schedules for 2 people, and, as you said, similar working styles.

I think "pair programming" is now some nebulous term people use to mean "can you talk through your code issues with someone else?".