I still have the PRS 10-Top Custom that I bought in the '80s - that finish is super thin like most '80s PRS guitars I've encountered over the decades - the pores in the mahogany back started showing some "sinking" by the mid-90s, which I always thought was cool because it looked like a '50s Les Paul. The finish on top also seems to track the grain, which, again, isn't a problem for me, as it just makes it look like 50's vintage piece more than an almost 30 year old "modern" guitar.
I think that PRS guitars have always suffered in the tone department for a few reasons. First, they were really born in the era of rackmounted gear and had more of a "hi-fi" sound (my description, yours may vary!). I don't think mine has ever been something I'd plug into a Marshall, an old Bassman or a Deluxe Reverb and love the sound. It always sounded great with my Boogie, but more stratty than LPish. I think the pickups are the culprit there maybe more than anything.
Secondly, the bodies are really pretty thin. Like SG thin almost. Hard to get a thick, woody tone without some meat in there, I'd guess. There's no doubt that my guitar has quality Honduras Mahogany, Brazilian RW board, and a great top, but if those exact pieces of wood had been made into a Les Paul instead, I'd probably have that one guitar only.
Like django49, I really wasn't moved to be interested in another PRS after mine until I played the first ME run. THOSE are stellar guitars. I'm also a fan of the DGTs, but other than that, as much as I dig my PRS and despite the fact that I've been to the factory at least 30 times and have friends there, I haven't run into a PRS that I just had to have. In fact, I left a PRS event at the factory once after miles and miles of cool new guitars...I bought a Hamer on the way home.