Hmm. I gotta be honest, I can't see how spending more money on headphones is going to help you too much, and I wouldn't trust environmental emulation, though it's definitely something to try out.
My headphones being stolen was a blessing in disguise as there is no way you're going to truly pan properly and work with things using just headphones. The spekaers I have are worth £20 and have a roll off at around 100hz and cuts at around 50hz. Not the most ideal monitoring solution, but after working solely on them, my mixes started becoming a lot closer, clearer and more consistant, as headphoens can make anything sound great.
I believe that headphones are still essential but in their own right. They're good for listening post master as they're usually pretty sensitive to transients and dynamics in my experience. They're also good to clean stuff up like problem frequencies, but they're a risky mixing solution, and certainly not a mastering solution. Relying on the flattering sound of headphones is like mastering a song, then going back and mixing it with the master fx chain enabled. A surefire way to lose punch and focus.
That being said lol, asking people online for an opinion for headphones that you might want may not be the most effective approach. Some may be less forgiving, or sound too in your face. Some may sound silky smooth etc. Everyone works differently with different monitors and you will need to find something that works right for you. So certainly, get to know the market for different types, but it's really important that you can make a direct comparison before you buy. That way you know you got the right set for you!
