Line Arrays - Competitive with best dynanics, ESL?

Line arrays are used widely in the professional audio market for large venues. It seems the distance helps the point source act as a line source, making up for the spacing between the individual drivers and evening out the sound. Unfortunately, my listening room is not quite large enough for this phenomenon to occur. Wisdom Audio speakers which I own in my system utilizes planar magnetic drivers for the line source in their high/midrange tower where sound is evenly eminating from the complete height of the driver. They do use the line array model in some of there bass towers (4 woofers).
Since my room is limited in size, I chose the Wisdoms. I will agree the soundstage and tonal "rightness"(neutrality?) is phenomenal.

I know Pipedreams used the line array model with success as heard in their room at past CES.

I moved from large electrostatics (InnerSound Eros) and also Klipsch horn speakers to VMPS RM30s (a ribbon-hybrid line source). I'm getting the best detailing, focus, and transient speed I've ever heard. The biggest surprise is that the RM30 were every bit as good as the Klipsch Chorus in reproducing wide dynamic swings.

As with other types of speakers, not all line sources are created equal. I'm a big fan of the line-array design, but the performance of the various models and brands can and does vary quite a bit.

I'm a line array convert too. Good ones will generally come at substantial cost, because high quality drivers are not inexpensive and many are used in these systems. Also the cabinets will be large. That said, some superb designs are very attainable, such as GR Research, Selah Audio, Epiphany Audio, and RAW Acoustics. At a higher price point look into Gryphon, Nola, Genesis, Wisdom, etc.

Line array loudspeakers are typically designed for nearfield listening, while commercial/professional line arrays are optimized for farfield listening. The design goals and intended use for each type are quite different.

You will find a lot of great information about line arrays in Jim Griffin's well known white paper. Download it at http://www.audiodiycentral.com/resource/pdf/nflawp.pdf

Plato,

Not trying to take anything away from the RM 30's since I haven 't heard them, but with a height of 22 inches from the 3 stacked planar drivers, it hardly constitutes a line array. Unless of course your ears are about a foot or two away from the speakers. This is all the better as far as I'm concerned since combining line source mids with point source LF and HF drivers is not a very wise choise for a multitude of reasons.

Pros/cons of line arrays?
I'll share my experience (listening, not technical) with the Selah Audio Incredarrays (consists of 10 Seas Excel W15 mid-bass drivers, 8 Fountek JP-2 ribbon tweeters and 2 Peerless XLS 12” subwoofers per side). This is coming off of several $15K dynamic speakers, as well as dipoles and ribbons.

Here's what they do better than any other speakers I've owned:
1) dynamics. Having 20 very good drivers per side conveys a lifelike punch and an instant transition from soft to loud and back again
2) leading edge transient response is amazing/startling and akin to the real thing
3) lifelike height! Compared to these, most speakers I've heard vertically shrink the soundstage.
4) presence, especially to vocals, that's uncanny
5) detail, and more detail, without etch or glare
6) integration. The drivers are reasonably seamless without a hint of breakup at transition points
7) room loading. They don't fight with the room, needing far less correction from my Tact than my last speakers
8) air. 16 ribbons that are quick enough to make cymbals really shimmer
9) easy to drive. your choice, tubes or SS.
10) not the absolute best in depth (my Genesis were better) smoothness (my Talons were smoother (but too recessed through the mids) or width (think 15' apart Dunlavys)-- but they're more balanced and natural in both soundstaging and imaging

Nitpicks:
Some might want more lush mids. Some may want a less forward presentation (stage-wise) and a softer upper mid/treble perspective. I thought they might be a little harsh in the highs on some material, and that saxes were a touch on the ruthlessly revealing side when I first got them, but now I think they're just right in these regards, accurately portraying what's on the recording.

Cons:
They're big!
6' tall and 2' deep rectangular boxes 8' into the room. But I've yet to hear a speaker presents a realistic stage that isn't way into the room. I'd considered smaller speakers (since I have corner subs (time-aligned with the Tact) but once you hear the dynamics and presence of the big boys it's hard to go back.

YMMV.