Thanks jda...not that this needs to become a PE thread, but having a lot of PE does not mean anything. Some of the real studies back a few decades by folks like Dr. Ron (I think...I forget...sorry) show more PE means that the coral can need to feed more and/or exchange more gas and nutrients. It can mean that they are not getting enough light and need more food. While less near-dying corals do not usually have much PE (this is bad, of course), it can also mean that healthy coral are getting enough light/food and do not need to risk exposure since most of the predators go after polyps first (this is good). Then, some are just hairy and always will be. It is a total crapshoot.
Keep in mind that a LOT of folks read about PE from LPS and other types of coral, which are totally different... and that gets lost in translation. I am talking about SPS only. You REALLY have to separate the two when you look at a study or research. I think that most people know that NPS are also not a good comparison, but a lot of the PE folklore come from papers about them.