I just set up my new Performance yesterday, so no long-term evaluation. I did find them easier to tune up than most any other kit I've had. There is a very positive difference with Tru Pitch rods, too. And the wrap (well they call it a finish ply it is so thick) looks great. I got Pewter finish. It's very dark gray (really more black) with sparkles. The sparkles are not exactly silver. They have color to them. It looks like an old school finish.
From one day of experience, my favorite sounding drum so far is kick. The batter head it came with is somewhat like a PS3. And the reso has smallish holes around perimeter. I didn't use the pillows that come standard. They're a very nice feature, if needed for certain sound, but too muffled for me.
I am the opposite of you, Incrementaig. I use thin maple sticks and play rather quietly. I don't often go to the floor tom. I was able to tune both toms to nice musical notes. I don't understand other people's comments on the drums being thuddy or boxy. Mine with stock heads are, if anything, the opposite. Musical with ring and sustain. I have tuned on high side of medium. Comments like they sound better with Ambassador batter heads don't make sense; you'd use Ambassadors to dry up the sound. If a drum is boxy/ thuddy with stock heads, Ambassadors will make them sound like you're playing on a piece of cardboard.