Yes, grim. Steve's Music Store may be the worst: welcome to the BIG AMP HOUSE!!!!One nice thing about Long and McQuade (just around the corner from where I live) is that they have a recent acoustic room away from the rest of the store. It is sane and there is room to look around. If they would just put a couple of comfy chairs in there, I would be tempted to actually go in voluntarily. And I would spend a lot of money. So maybe it is a good thing these places are so horrible!!
yours, Peter T.