Why are subwoofers so polarizing?


I will admit I have never been a proponent of subwoofers in a 2 channel system. Maybe i've not heard the proper set up or the level of sub was not equal to the speaker. The last great application was over 20 years ago when I heard a Pro-Ac Tablette with a forgotten subwoofer. I'm sure in the last 20+ years the technology has improved but why are subs still mainly limited to home theater systems? As always I appreciate your time and thoughts.
dayglow
I haven't tried room correction because the room my hifi occupies doesn't need it, for me less is better (my dual mono preamp has source, level, and muting...that's it), and I don't trust robots. The room has plenty of furniture and a padded large rug, an angled tall ceiling, windows that are far enough away to obviate reflections, and any standing wave bass issues are nowhere near my listening spot. The main speakers sit on chopping blocks with vibrapods under them to keep the wood floor from adding back any pesky resonance (an experiment that worked) and my only adjustment is a tiny bass level tweak when I think it's called for (the front firing sub doesn't sit on anything but small floor scatch preventing felt pads and the vibrapods keep it from polluting the mains...at least in theory, and it sounds great)...like with very heavy bass lines that get in the way, or when cranking the thing up a bit. Otherwise it's a sweet sounding and accurate system, and I like a little "room tone" in there...makes it sound more alive.
Wolf,

In this game personal preference trumps all, but my own experience with Audyssey has been revelatory. It's unequicovocably been the single biggest improvement that I've made in my system in the last decade +, and not by a little. I guess that I've embraced the robot and now we live together very happily. Mixed marriages can work - tho I'm sure they're not for everybody.

Marty
Ok, I have read this entire thread!, very entertaining!,, I am sorry My fellow members, I laughed so hard I almost fell out of my chair!, go ahead, read the whole thread and you will laugh too!, not about the sub woofer topic here, just on how everyone communicated between each other, pariots, chimps, repeating over and over what was already said, to getting confused tring to fix type o problems,NVP comments regarding Bo1972, and finally but not least, my friend Wolf_Garcia remarks was very funny as well,, I needed some popcorn for this show!, bring on more!