First of all, the Qs8's are not omnipole speakers, they are quadpolar designed. They have 4 drivers all firing in phase at the same time, unlike Bipole or Dipole speakers.
Axiom designed the Q's to basically give you the same experience a movie theater gives you, which has speakers lined along the side walls and rear walls. You DO want to be enveloped in the surround effects, not having them directly aimed at you, which is what a direct radiating speaker gives you.
I'm sure Alan will be along on this question asap, but I think your "dummies" book is wrong. If I remember correctly, Alan mentioned years ago that the engineering done by the studios are intended for speakers like the Q's, not direct radiating.
