What I'd find quite interesting is to remap channels, and to render multichannel audio to single mono files with an appropriate extension, such as audio.L.wav and audio.Ls.wav. Single channel mono files are generally safer for delivery because of the lack of possible confusion.
Some good reading I found on a quick scavenger tour:
http://www.tonmeister.ca/main/textbook/node775.html
http://www.webopedia.com/DidYouKnow/...ound_sound.asp
The 5.1 Channel Production Guide here:
http://www.dolby.com/DocLibTechLanding.aspx?taxid=186
In particular section 6.1 deals with channel-to-track allocation.
Some good starter information.
http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=56020