Re panzrwagn - Closed box sound is dryer because it ends faster, has less overhang. It's more detailed because it stops more quickly. Speed of bass is really not the initial attack but how quickly it stops and closed boxes stop faster. It's just that the extra overhang of reflex boxes adds richness like amps with high second harmonics that people like despite being less accurate.
With modern programs there are good reflex loadings(albeit less good than good closed loading). If reflex bass is too boomy it's either incompetent design or often unfortunately achoice to make a speaker sound bassy because that sells in way too many cases.