My reaction to using arrays for close listening applications used to be 'why bother', but I've had very positive reports from builders of my SLA cabs who use them as computer monitors, so I wouldn't dismiss the notion out of hand. But as far as bass arrays in average size listening rooms are concerned I doubt that the average listener could tell whether the source was a line or a point even at 12 feet away, as room reflections so dominate response below 100 Hz.