I did, I was exagerating, which is an effect people sometimes use in communication for effect. I am sorry I didn't clarify in my post that it was there for effect, I thought it might have been obvious.
They could also be wrong*.
Funny thing with the licensed barts, you can pick it up, play it, think "oh that sounds alright", then play it at a gig and think, "oh the sound on that gig wasn't good, must be the set up", and continue like this until you realise after a while when you go to pick up a bass to noodle on when there is a choice, the one with the licensed barts isn't the one you are picking up. I dont' know what it is, there are many people out there using them as their only bass and they won't really have a problem until they get something else.
I always think ibanez do themseles no favours using them, the amount of times you hear that people like the basses but think the sound is bland or generic and discount them, then play the premium and think it is a much better bass, when it is actually just a prettier bass with better pickups.
* note, this is an opinion, not a literal truth.