Sorry, but I think you have it exactly backwards. The benefit of FIR over IIR filters in the mid/treble range is mostly just lobing control and stop-band steepness. There *may* be slight audibility directly related to phase in some cases on some material, etc, but it's not a huge impact.
However, room correction is inherently and unavoidably a non-minimum-phase problem, and any minimimum-phase (ie IIR) correction is at best a partial approach. The types of things that can be done in terms of correction using long FIR filters are so far advanced compared to a simple parametric notch/peak as to make them different things altogether....
dwk,
Thanks for the comments. My own post was specific to the differences between the DEQX and The Behringer DCX2996, not a generalization as to the 'ultimate' methodology. I'm sure you realize that an FIR does not have to be linrear phase, and that specifically, DEQX uses a FIR linear phase for its speaker correction, and FIR minimum phase for room correction. One man's slight audibility may be anothers huge impact.
The room correction comments were again, specifically adressing the differeces between the Behringer and Deqx, which are both parametric equalization(s). Your preference for digitally 'removing the walls' is far more sophisticated, and is not attempted by either vendor or Rives.