I had bare bottom tanks for eight years before going to the DSB two years ago. So far I love it. There is not only alot more life in the tank but it looks alot better then bare glass. I have not seen much in the way of buffering help from the sand bed as I had heard about.
I had a bottomless tank one time too when I lived in FL. I dropped a big rock in my tank that broke the bottom and put 30 gallons on the floor. Something that doesn't happen w/ a sand bed.