I think it's one of those suck-it-and-see things. It will depend on the geometry of the bike, the weight and height of the rider, and what sort of riding (and indeed wheeling) you're doing.
I reckon that putting at least some weight on the front is generally a good idea, but if that means loading the steering (which it does on most diamond-framed bikes) the effect on handling may be undesirable. Similarly, it depends on what practical options you have for attaching luggage - low-rider panniers are great until there's overgrown singletrack, strapping your sleeping bag to your handlebars might interfere with lights, and so on.
(I assume in this context 'cargo cages' are those giant bottle-cage-style bikepacking mounts.)
Trailers are an underrated option if you're never going anywhere near a train or similar, and there aren't suspension implications.