I will say, i have really enjoyed reading through this post and pretty much everyone's queries, opinoins and answers. My own personal observations on a few things said here:
1. For the money, panels can be incredible bargains depending on what you are looking for in a speakers. i think because of their technology, they seem able to do things at a lower price point than their cone counterparts at the same pricepoint. The Maggie MMG, 1.7, Quads 2805s, the old Apogee Stages...these are speakers that have a magic about their space, midrange, air that you have to spend quite a bit of money to get in a cone (imho).
2. The key is that once you find a cone (for more money) that matches these speakers...you are also probably getting slam, major dynamics and a fuller deeper register.
3. Once you then decide to go back to panels to match this more expensive cone speaker...by buying a bigger panel, you are getting a REALLY BIG PANEL!
4. Personally, I love panels...always have. I nearly bought the Apogee Stages years ago third-hand...a bargain in retrospect but i could not swing $1000 when i was just out of school. For $1000 i could not find any cone that did what the Stages did.
5. At the same time, now that i have big Wilsons, i find them to have a 'comparable' though not equal alacrity with enormous effortless power and slam. And to get panels that match that effortless slam...well, as Gary says, i do not have the room...few of us do.
6. And that is where i am most impressed by Wilson. Even though they are 6 feet tall, the footprint of a Wilson is about 2 feet by 2.5 feet...it can work in many kinds of rooms, but you BETTER know how to set them up. But when you do, they are remarkable in what they can do in a (relatively) practical size/shape.
Finally, i would love to hear Genesis speaker by Gary...and would love have a room (and the money!) and be able to call him up one day and say...i want to hear the mighty 1.2s because i think i'm buying!
Gary - the photo of your client's room with your speakers is awesome. Those were 1.2s cut down to be custom-fitted into the room?