Hey Mike (thanks for all your help btw).

It's weird "Down Under", (I hate using that cliche...) because what happens is - you have to go to certain Music stores that are "Bose Distributors" and you give them the order, then they contact Bose on your behalf, and Bose deliver the Goods to the Store...weird.
(Actually it's most likely so Bose can control the price directly.)

The store had a loaner which we used for 3 gigs.
No real 45 day trial.
We made up our minds after the 2nd gig however, and are more sure than ever now.

Thanks for your reply Don, that's the sort of honest post I appreciate without anyone getting all steamed up about this topic - thank you.

Actually, your post reminded me about something I meant to mention in my first post - Price.

Down here it's $4885 (Aussie Dollars)

If I was to purchase a similar, conventional P.A. - let's take my old P.A. as an example...

12" Top Speakers $800-$1000 each [Total $1600-$2000]
15" Subwoofer [$2000] - For a good one, I don't skimp on Subs.
Mixing Desk (Small 4-6 Channel with FX) $500
Monitor/Foldback [$600)
Covers [$150-$200]

(Excuse the approximates, but they're certainly in the ballpark.)

TOTAL: $5300 (Max price from the above examples)

So, for me - $5300 (approx) vs $4885 (Exact).

Selling my old gear (which I'm about to do) may net me $1500 (conservative est) so I spent more in the region of $3500
(All costs Australian Dollars).

Like many of you, we're professionals, so good money spent on good equipment is good for business - I had no qualms about it.

Where it DOES become expensive is where you have a trio or full Band situation (4,5,6,7,8, or 9 piece) where say, for a 4-5 piece I would use at least 2 PAS systems with subs.

It's a big ask for a band to outlay that kind of money, because a conventional P.A. (like the one I described) should do an entire Band.