Stimpie,
i have an epic80 in a room that is about 10 by 12. it sounds great.
1 - soundstage is great, no problems at all. even when the sound is very loud or very soft. in fact, i used to have M22's and the M80's do give better sound stage despite the lack of space. I have them about 7 feet apart, 1 foot from the wall behind them. Toe in is not as bad as you think, the speakers point out to either side of a two seat couch place directly between the two on the back wall.
2 - the center does help make the front soundstage seamless and locks the dialog to the center. I have heard the VP100, very good. I have the VP150, worth the upgrade. More neutral, fuller sound.
