Like I said, "you could build a home theater with better sound." But most people haven't and won't. It requires time, technical expertise, and a lot of space. And with that you only get a home theater. And you can't travel with it (I love the idea of using one on a plane).
But I'm sympathetic to the social-watching issue. I don't love the idea of watching movies in a headset while my wife sits next to me on the sofa doing something else (or even watching the same movie on a screen). But I also don't love the idea of buying two. (And that's without even thinking about larger families.)
I think home theater will be a big part of the appeal, but it won't succeed if replacing a home theater is the only thing it does well.
There's also a physical limit on bass sound from small head speakers. Much of bass sound is felt in the chest as much as in the ear, and the little speakers on the device are limited there. iPods are the same of course, and they do okay with sound, but we accept a lot of limitations on portable devices.
But I'm sympathetic to the social-watching issue. I don't love the idea of watching movies in a headset while my wife sits next to me on the sofa doing something else (or even watching the same movie on a screen). But I also don't love the idea of buying two. (And that's without even thinking about larger families.)
I think home theater will be a big part of the appeal, but it won't succeed if replacing a home theater is the only thing it does well.