@Duke it is possible that Dr Toole is using the term
sound quality, in his first post above, with precision. In his books Dr Toole distinguishes between the terms
sound quality and
spatial quality. Reflected sound is especially important for the latter, so quality of reflected sound is still important, but not so much in relation to the precise term
sound quality.
The general readership, reading recent posts to this thread, could easily conflate
sound quality with 'all aspects of listener preference for quality'. Even when audience coverage is not an issue and only one listener is present, reflected sound remains a notable component of listener preference, and even more so for listeners who still restrict themselves to 2-channel playback of 2-channel source material.
Perhaps we should check with Floyd if I am understanding correctly.
@Floyd Toole