I like the way they look in a conventional way. I've confessed my affection for the appearance of the wider baffle of the XRS in another post, but I can appreciate how a narrow tower makes placement easier. My SO also likes the narrow models from KEF and Def Tech in the local shop but ironically tolerates my Altec 614 cabinets with naked 32A horns in the living room.
On an unrelated note, I think that 1.5 models, especially conventional-appearing floorstanders, are an important product for Louis. The margins on handmade, single-driver speakers selling for $695 have to be razor-thin. I believe being able to sell a model with higher perceived value (better bass, more dynamics, more power handling, greater number of components) is essential to the company's continued viability. At the same time, many of us have explored methods of improving bass performance, typically turning to active bass reinforcement. The helper driver fleshing out the upper bass region and below can obviate this need in many cases.
