I can imagine that the negative remarks are coming from those who play more bluesy music on their guitars or what have you, i admit that if you would like to play a variety of different genre's actives aren't that amazing, but the point i was trying to make is that if you can't afford all that fancy equipment and you have your heart set on hard rock music then actives are a good way to make sure that you get the right distortion even on cheap equipment. In the end i don't think it really matters, it's all up to how you play, but i'm enjoying my actives right now, playing mainly heavier hard rock, all in all if you get a good combo, like an 81/60 you might get some more versatile tone (aka Metallica how every now and then they play some of their new bluesy style music, probably switch to their emg 60's for that - btw EMG's won't automatically make you sound like metallica!).

Don't chose a guitar by its pickups though, pick it up (excuse the pun) and give it a good play at the music store and see which one sounds best to you.