Interesting thread, Nocaster. My experience is largely similar to your own. I have tended to own speakers (Quad 57's, Ruark Talisman II's, Rogers Studio 1a, Mordaunt-Short P6's) which do the mids right rather than fully extending to the lowest octaves. With any of these speakers, they do so much right in the critical mid range and lower treble that I seldom feel I'm missing out on the low lows.
Having said that, I've had the opportunity to listen to a few systems with genuine full range speakers (MBL 101's, Avalon Isis, Rockport, Von Schweikert, and a few others) and they have definitely had an additional dimension that my own speakers have lacked and this was no doubt bass related. The common element in all these systems, however, was a significantly larger room than mine and significantly more expensive (and powerful) amplification.
If I win the lottery and suddenly find myself in a listening room double the size, my priorities would certainly shift to seeking a more full range loudspeaker.
Having said that, I've had the opportunity to listen to a few systems with genuine full range speakers (MBL 101's, Avalon Isis, Rockport, Von Schweikert, and a few others) and they have definitely had an additional dimension that my own speakers have lacked and this was no doubt bass related. The common element in all these systems, however, was a significantly larger room than mine and significantly more expensive (and powerful) amplification.
If I win the lottery and suddenly find myself in a listening room double the size, my priorities would certainly shift to seeking a more full range loudspeaker.