I wish you well in finding your new sound. I have to agree, I don't even have EW (and likely won't now) but I can't help but notice them and I have no doubt that they've become 'dry', a fashion designer can't use the same fabric after all.
As for me, I have the tiny Orchestra and Varazdin Orchestra sample CDs for FL, I can't even get my first song to sound right with them, maybe I just suck at mastering, or FL altogether, but the sounds are muddy and nowhere near what they can be. Most online help on mastering is centered around making your 'doof doof' sound 'phat' but anyway..
Whatever you feel is worth the money I'd love to know, I think you're right about focal libraries over the generic 'one size fits all' bundles.
Good luck.
TheWisestMagi
Crazy face =P, I remember back when you recommended me to east-west, and the only reason I didn't try it is because I have to share this computer (for another year or so) and it took up way to much room >.<.
Goodluck with your search for new sounds and fonts and such, that has been BY FAR the most annoying part of generating music to me...seems as though I can't get my thoughts (even if I can litterally hum each part out loud) down on a music program with the perfect instrument intonation that plays in my head...
So goodluck, because I still haven't found it for me =P, I'll have to wait for my own computer, and find some REAL fonts.
Still Watching,
~TheWisestMagi~