You are probably right. You almost certainly wont get a 'poor' sounding guitar, but precisely because they dont all sound the same, you could buy one that could have been better.
The point I was making is that I would never know so would never care. I know they do vary a bit because the variations in natural materials for example but I would only try the ones I like the look of and, if there is more than 1 I like, then I would still walk out of that shop with the 'best guitar' for ME. Chances are, all the PRS guitars in the SAME model, would play the same so I would walk out of that shop with the one that I liked the look and sound of. Whether one of the others had a slightly 'better' sound or not, I don't care - the others failed the first test and that is important to me.
If the one that I leave the shop with is worse, it was still the 'best' guitar I heard and leave the shop extremely happy that I have a fantastic instrument that looks, sounds, plays and feels great. If not, I would have walked away, go to another shop that may have the model in a look I like and try them. the Sound is purely subjective - what you may prefer the sound of, I may not. The differences too would be subtle and still sound great. The difference in store could be attributed to the age of the strings, the small variation in PU height etc. Also going from store to store, the amp you get to try them on can make a difference so even if you think one guitar sounds better than all the others you tried, especially if you go from shop to shop, that could be more down to circumstance and actually one of the others would have sounded better when you got it home, put new strings on, set it up to your preference and played it through your own rig. Because that guitar in the shop had older strings, lower PU height, poor amp and/or acoustics in the room - whatever reason, you aren't going to rue buying it because you took home the one that you thought was best.
If its all about the little nuances that differ from instrument to instrument, if its all that matters to you, How far are you willing to go? Do you buy the best on one store? Are you that concerned that you would go to every store in a 100mile radius of your home to try them all to find the best one? Maybe even all the shops in your State/county and all adjoining States/Counties to ensure that you have tried everyone to ensure you have the 'best'. Can't be worried that you haven't got the best until you have tried everyone. Maybe PRS have yet to build the best or maybe you will have to settle for 2nd or 10th best maybe because someone else bought the best... How far are you willing to go to find the 'best'? How can you be sure you have the 'best'. If you are only worried about the 'best' in stock at the time you visited, you don't know if you have the 'best' because the best could be sat in another store, could arrive in the store in the next batch if you waited....
I am happy to walk out of a shop with an instrument that looks stunning, sounds great to me, plays well etc. I am leaving that shop happy! Whether its the 'best' sounding or not, that's very subjective anyway, but I am leaving the store with the best guitar for ME. I would sacrifice some small nuance in the tone to have a guitar that looks stunning and makes me want to pick it up and play it far more than a guitar that I don't like the look, the colour of etc. Just like a guitar is the sum of its parts, so it is with my decision to buy. A guitar has to look great (to ME), sound great (to ME), Play and Feel great (to ME) and if not, if any of these categories are not met, then I couldn't care less if its the 'best' sounding instrument but in a colour I hate, its not the best instrument to ME. ALL my guitars have to be at least great in every category so I wouldn't buy the best looking instrument if it doesn't sound, feel or play great to me.
