I'll admit I've never tried one, but from what I see and hear from various drummers, they do have their use, but it might be a bit limited. They mostly seem to sound like a very dead, very large tom or a bass drum with a lot of attack. Guys like Simon Phillips and Marco Minneman use theirs to great effect, almost as a bass drum in more intricate grooves, while others use theirs as their biggest tom, which doesn't always work quite as well.

Example from Marco Minneman
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/ne6hZW3Wsr8" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/ne6hZW3Wsr8</a>

Simon Phillips:
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/En9-o2DdDd8" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/En9-o2DdDd8</a>

I've actually been wanting one as of late.   They shouldn't really be 'dry' per se.  They're more akin to tympani than a standard kick.  And should have that ring.    I may just pick up an old junk kick and turn it into one.  The stands an issues though.

I remember Chris Slade using something similar with AC/DC when they did the tour that became the AC/DC: Live album.  Not quite the same, his were double headed, had one on each side of his set, and to be quite honest, they looked like marching bass drums.  I think he'd hit them for some real big attack on certain downbeats.

Speaking of AC/DC, why did they have Chris Slade for those few albums?  Where was Phil Rudd during that time?

I believe the gong Bass drums first appeared in Tama catalogs in either the 1977 or 78 versions with Billy Cobham on the cover. (back when they were "the strongest new name in drums"). Somewhere in the vast caverns of my folk's attic is that and a number of other catalogs from that time period. I should take the time to try and find them someday.