Both of your posts point to a lack of Jerry, brahz.
Shai, The Dead, and The Other ones are all the same as Furthur, + or - an original member, a fake Jerry or some other guitarist who doesn't gel with the band quite right. DSO is definitely not inspiring, I mean, they're a cover band, after all. They're good for what they are, though. I'd still go see them over an unpredictable Furthur who plays either too slow, disjointed, or once in a great while actually go somewhere. I linked a couple Reconstruction shows in here a few pages back.
I got your text, illum, wish I could have made it to the SF shows this year, that pass looks like it would have made it all the funner.
It's Phish only for live, improvised, psychedelic music, these days, imho. The Denver shows are some of the best I've seen them perform since 98. Top notch stuff. Time to start planning for New Years.