First off,I completely agree with your assessment re: bass and the degree of difficulty in getting it right. IMO. getting the bass right is the biggest and (for the most part) most expensive technical challenge a full range speaker designer faces..
OTOH, you note that speakers face room problems, but that you mostly blame the speakers. I disagree. After screwing around with this problem since I first started the hobby in the '70s, I have concluded that few, if any, speakers can offer smooth behavior below about 120hz. It's the room. I went the DRC route (subwoofers), got great results and called it a day. If you want to try and beat the room problem in the bass without DRC, I wish you the best of luck. I couldn't do it.
Marty
OTOH, you note that speakers face room problems, but that you mostly blame the speakers. I disagree. After screwing around with this problem since I first started the hobby in the '70s, I have concluded that few, if any, speakers can offer smooth behavior below about 120hz. It's the room. I went the DRC route (subwoofers), got great results and called it a day. If you want to try and beat the room problem in the bass without DRC, I wish you the best of luck. I couldn't do it.
Marty