So, here is the evidence tweeters are in fact directional. From the spec sheet of a typical tweeter:
https://www.madisoundspeakerstore.com/soft-dome-tweeters-vifa/peerless-dx25bg60-04-1-textile-dome-tw...Notice the frequency response chart. Each line represents a different location off axis.
Next, please refer back to the measurements I pointed from Stereophile.
What happens is that the relative difference in distance to your ears causes constructive and destructive interference. Speaker designers (like me) have to take the acoustic distance into account when designing crossovers.
D'Appolito is the exception in that above and below the tweeter axis is the same. As I tried to mention above, my comments about listening at or below the tweeter axis applies only to traditional designs with the tweeter on top. With D'Appolitos it's the same amount of pain, and sometimes more so, below and above.
After he initially introduced his famous configuration, Dr. D'Appolito has suggested fixing this by increasing the steepness of the filters if you use his design. That is, if you'd normally do OK with a 2nd order (12 db/Octave) you should try a 4th order (24 db/Octave).