they were pretty open about the fact that those first ones couldn't handle very much in the way of spls, the next series (the $5 ones) were better, but still not very well suited for close drum miking. apparently the newest ones, which are a bit more expensive, can handle close drum miking.
it's funny-- i talked to the dude from karma who designed them at the time and the whole 99 cent mic thing was a response to a rode ad for the nt-1a where that creepy rode president dude asked something to the effect of "what's next-- the $1.50 condenser mic?"
