An update. The car has settled nicely and now sits a smidgen lower (by eye, no measurement) than with the stock shocks. I took it on one of our local windy bumpy roads yesterday and can say that the ride IS smoother with the b8s than with the original shocks. I found myself traveling about 10 mph faster than with my Miata on the same road, without even thinking about it. It's a given that the ride was completely controlled by the shocks, and I too was in complete control.
My verdict is that it is an upgrade. Sublte, but well worth it.
My 2¢