My issue with 'fake arrays' is that they look great - on paper. Each box supposedly has its own little zone to cover; tweak the boxes used to cover the zones for the project.
The reality is much more messy. Model the system in EASE Focus, EASE, etc - and it's not nice and neat. Nearly every time a trap box, point source, or true line array performs (models out) better for the application.
I'm a fan of using point source (or even trap boxes) in pairs, sometimes three or more. Those situations mostly work, depending on the pattern control of each box. A 12" or 15" front loaded driver and horn simply doesn't have the pattern control necessary to play nice with adjacent boxes, especially at all (most) frequencies.
Now that I live in EASE Focus, Danley Direct, EASE, and others more than in the past - there are more applications I find where trap box, point source, or true line array work well, and vertical arrays - just don't. I have yet to find a single project where a fake array provided a better solution than one of the above types. Cheaper maybe, a 'line array-ish look' maybe, but not better performing.
