But that's my entire POINT, Donny. When making equipment recommendations, what and where YOU play has no bearing on anyone else when it comes to adequate volume for larger gigs. If you don't play the same stuff as Gary, at the same volume, his recommendation is of little worth.

Rather than specify the number of people, specify how close to maximum you can push the gear before it gets noticeably worse, specify if you are playing disco, hiphop or rock to a crowd of under 30 year olds (who are DEFINITELY not "sick of getting blown out every time they go to an affair" ), specify whether they were satisfied with the level (perhaps compare to their usual volume)...

The only thing my crystal balls tell me is that not all of us do the same things to the same people, so expecting the same gear to work is unlikely. "I played to 100 people yesterday' means nothing. Use YOUR crystal ball, Donny Infer from THAT how loud I played...

You can't..! You can only 'guess'.

And if guessing is good enough to base a $2000 PA purchase on, then have at it!