But the first time I heard a high-quality woofer with a shorting ring, I was even more impressed than the first time I heard a good high-quality horn.

Put 'em both together and you have the ultimate sound system, in my opinion. From the midrange up, horn size isn't a problem so I can't see any reason to forego them. Bass is a different story. If you have the room, go horns. If not, don't. But either way, if you have the money to go with a technology that improves symmetry, all the better. It measures better and it sounds better.