i found your post interesting, i have a best friend who is a major u2 fan so occasionally we show each other dvds and new songs in order to impress each other...i have to note that i like u2 and he likes bj, but there is a childish rivalry about this between us...
u2 do major shows and most of the times they are really inspired, i ve seen many times every official dvd from u2 and they dont just concentrate on the musical aspect but use videos and side themes in order to pass messages-preach sometimes-and make a more complicated show, a visual spectacle.
the last years bj have given more and more attention in their live productions, but jon always tries to highlight the band-himself and the music because he knows thats their strength and thats why the majority is coming in their shows, he also sees the costs etc so he doesnt take any risks, u2 360 tour with bonos injury and all may be be ambitious and all but in the end they will make much less money in comparison to the number of tickets and the prices.(not that this says sth necessarily, just a thought from a financial point)
i ve seen u2 in athens and i m waiting to see bj's stadium set up as well,(i ve seen bj's arena production twice in o2 ), i have to say that the claw doesnt look so impressive live even though its a smart idea that fits their needs and status.
last i have to say that an average u2 show in my opinion beats a bj show in the eyes of a casual fan, bj are all about jon and richie if one of them doesnt deliver, especially jon, then it can suck big time, saying that i have to add that a special bj show i think cant be matced by the irish rockers, because their musicallity-their voices-the connection between jon and richie can be mindblowing, and as a rock blues lover i find more fascinating the free spirit of sambora, the impros in ktf than the inspired but limitating delay dictated sound...(although i realise that edge is a pioneer and had better ideas than sambora the last decade)
both bands are great though and maybe in the future they could coexist for a couple of songs live.