Well these are all compelling arguments, but I still can't get past the price difference. I did a little experimentation at home with some other bookshelf speakers to hear the difference between inward-facing and forward-facing speakers, both well above ear level.
They both sound acceptable, but I think I prefer the forward-facing direction because it sounds more diffuse. It's odd to me that the general opinion is that it's better for monopole surrounds to face the listener; perhaps this is because the original pro logic was analog and imprecise.
