You didnt qualify what model you owned and when, if you had it setup up properly etc.
I'd say the majority that have owned svs have been pleased.
My first svs was a 20-39 pci in 2007,left a bad impression. I use sub crawl to place,always found that pleasing to my ears. Here recently I have demo'd an sb16 and pb16 through our magnolia,had to find out what all the fanfare was over these.
The sb16 was as lifeless a sub as I think I've ever heard and the pb16 is a booming chuff monster I would compare to most car audio spl comp setups.
I answered the OP's question if money wasn't an object, you are stuck on bang for buck,I find that ridiculous, I'll pay whatever I want for whatever sounds good to me as is every man's right.
We have a local HT group here, give or take 40 members, most have succumbed to the svs hype,most have moved on after the hype wore off to what sounds good to their individual listening habits.
I own a pair of Trinity's,couple of us do. A few own JL fathoms and Gotham's ,some psa,paradigm,it's a big mix, alot of us have diy's. Some do one thing very good,some do everything very well,I'll put the Gotham in the latter.
And life is all around us, it changes constantly,the day I heard a Gotham life made a change right there. Svs never gave that impression.
Just my two cents. You will very rarely see a quality sub owner hijacking threads like svs fanboys do. It's rampant on every forum.
All of you new to HT or bass should also know that these forums are loaded with reps,salesmen,and reviewers from these ID companies plugging their brand for sales and bashing the competition. Remember when choosing audio,go demo it yourself, bring it home make YOUR choice not someone else's.