funny this should come up, I just finished a few songs without the front head, and I just started a few songs with a front head, no hole. So far I think I'm more into the front head on-no port sound. I took an SM91 and put it on the floor right by the bass drum pedal to get the click and some bottom snare, and put a nd868 on the resonant head right in the middle about half inch away. This is my first attemt at dual mic'ing the bass drum with no hole, and so far it sounds way more realistic than right up inside tha drum pointing at the beater. me likey.
i've also tried this approach as seen in live sound international written bout by my favorite live sound guru Jack Alexander. got some big sounds this way. He gets his thunder from the resonant head like this (and so did I)
Here is a look thru the port at two mics inside the bass drum