OP,
thanks for catching my memory lapse and I really am referring to port/no port, omni-directional, controlled directivity.
here a KEF, there a Revel, any where you go ...
you wrote
"so I was thinking that if one was low level listening with an adequate amp, the sensitivity wouldn’t be that critical."
I absolutely agree, in theory, assuming no mis-match of equipment/space/placement/frequency distribution ’received’ at listening position. which is: an impossible assumption/comparison.
my friend’s little KEF Reference 1’s needed some serious juice (spl 81, sealed, no ports), made a great 1st impression. His mono block beasts burnt out after a while. Bass only down to 90 hz admitted to in those days. He built a table with an enormous down firing sub to that system after a while, I’m afraid to remember 30".
KEF Reference 1, sealed, no port, spl 81db
Add a port (other KEF, Revel, .....), sensitivity goes up a bit, all the way up to 86db hah, and bass performance goes lower a bit, however, now you have a much higher amount of indirect secondary ..... sound waves.
you also quoted:
"they are not finicky as far as placement." (about the ported Revels).
I think, when a port is involved, any/all locations already involve so much reflected sound ....., whereas, no port, front emanation, the placement(s) make a more discernable/measurable difference, so .... ported is less finicky isn’t necessarily a good thing.
..........................................
this becomes academic, a choice has to be made for a small room, many small ported speakers sound very enjoyable with or without a sub.