i have been able to handle at least 300 people in a bar with 1 bose and even the people in the back could understand every word because with a line array the volume does not drop off as fast as on traditional point and shoot speakers. they have changed since the model 1 Thunder, and without any sub, i definately understand why you were not impressed. i will get complaints occasionally that it is too loud, and considering i have the volume just under "3" and my main fader at 5 under, i have headroom galore.
it ain't right for everybody, but it is definitely stronger than the responses i have been seeing. most still try to EQ them like regular point and shoot, when you flatline the EQ, i add ~2dB of bass @100Hz and ~1dB at 10KHz and it does what it does and comes to life.