They are my favorite grunge band. If Mother Love Bone had made more than 1 album I like to think they might be, at least that 1 album is pretty bad ass. Would be interesting if they hadn't lost A Wood, grunge scene would have developed differently, probably never would've been a Pearl Jam. I feel people always think about what would have been if Cobain didn't leave the world early, but I don't think it would have made anywhere near as much a difference as Wood's death, considering it happened just when grunge was gaining steam. I mean 1 guys death resulted in the creation of Pearl Jam the other in the Foo Fighters, no argument there as to which band is more influential.
I saw AIC without Staley, too, never with him unfortunately. They opened for Velvet Revolver (who's set, btw, was mainly salvaged by playing like 2 or 3 GnR songs, I recall 1 was Mr. Brownstone but don't remember the others). AIC blew them out of the water, though. Obv would have been better w/ Layne, but still was pretty damn good.