I'm sure that when DT recorded Awake 26 years ago, people said that too about him using a 7-string. And then out came The Mirror and everyone loved it.
Na, apples and oranges, when the 7 came out "real" players were experimenting with it and what i can do, but that was 26 years ago when 7s were rare. Now everyone and their Youtube shred-dog can have an 8 and they all end up just chugging along. It'll sound just like every other player with an 8. We'll see.
I can see him doing some interesting rhythm stuff with an 8-string, I just hope he doesn't fall into a "chugging" hole.
I guess that's my biggest objection to using an 8. It's so difficult to have any separation in the low notes that even when you're playing different ones it's they mostly sound the same unless you're playing notes at least 3 frets away from each other.
However, if there's anyone around that I have hope for NOT being a chuggernaut, it's JP.
My other objection is what happens to the bass? What's the point of even having a bass player if you're guitars are playing that low (eg. Animals as Leaders)?