This is almost as bad as shopping for a sub based on magnet size. Its the same idea, more MUST be better, without understand that a speaker is a complex design whose final performance is based not only on each individual specification/part, but how they interact with each other. Again, if you aren't following what Im saying, do a search here for Eclipse Ti Pro and read the comments said about how its 'over motored'. Not only does it serve no useful purpose to performance, it can actually hinder it over a design with the proper BL strength.
If this John person you speak of told you that, either 1) he misunderstands that BL strength is irrelevant if only considered by itself, or (and more likely) 2) he knew this but you misunderstood his point. BL strenght IS important, but looked at in and of itself means almost nothing.