Just to tickle the dragon, believing this subject somewhat beaten to death, not only in this post but others, but are not nearly everyone's subwoofers active? I like many here have owned a plethora of everything, but I've never done the passive subwoofer with a dedicated separate amp. Would that not be the same argument?
I'm just wondering respectfully how that plays out with the zealot passive transducer crowd. Confident that confirmation bias will rage in and have a declaration of "that's not the same thing!" It makes me smile.
I know what works for me and do not wish to proselytize to others.