ok, so ive enjoyed the thread... my two cents is that unless you try all types on the same guitar you'll never know.... but in my experience sometimes the construction of a particular instrument can call into play certain qualities that will be more emphasized by a certain amount of pressure placed on it. ive had much greater experience with altering the neck angle in order to put a taller bridge...thus putting a bit more pressure on the soundboard...
ya know after having played a lowden... made for and owned by alex degrassi... how can you argue with that tone... by far they are the most projecting guitars i have ever experienced... but im sure lowden would attribute this more to their bracing and also the use of more dense neck materials... if you havent played an acoustic with a rock maple neck, please do. sorry if i got a bit off topic.
c