Do airliners have different weight and balance limits for take-off and cruise?
The aircraft has to be balanced (trimmed) throughout flight. Once in the cruise, if you think about it there is a constant shifting of weight around the centre of gravity - people walk up and down to the loo's, FA's push heavy carts, toilet tanks become full and potable water tanks empty etc. etc. This all compensated for by the aircraft automatically adjusting the trim.
At the point of take-off, where the aircraft transitions from being supported by the gear to being supported by lift, the crew have to know in advance that the aircraft is within a calculated balance range for safe flight.
I've probably used some incorrect technical terms here, but the broad concept is about correct, I believe - if not, then I'll stand to be corrected