What makes 12-15-78 legendary? Well, obviously the radio broadcast. If 12-16 were broadcasted, or 12-20, we'd all call them legendary too. Yes, it was a great week of music. But to say that one is better than another, or that we're not "in the know" because we'd like 12-15 released is just stupid. We want 12-15 released because we grew up on 12-15. It's a radio broadcast that could use a remix by J.A. that would make it perfect.
I know the ins and outs of 12-15 better than some of his official releases, because I've certainly listened to it more times. As far as I am concerned, it is a live album of his, that I'm playing on a a second rate stereo. I'd like a remix so that I can listen to in first class. I grew up on the show (I'm 52 now, and I've had a copy of the show for well over 3 decades, as most of us have).
Is 12-16 a better show? Is 12-20? I don't know. And I don't care. I do know that the bootlegs of those shows are far inferior to 12-15, so I could never compare them. I've probably listened to 12-16 and 12-20 a handful a times in my lifetimes, as opposed to a lifetime of listens to 12-15.
But what do I know. I don't know Bruce Springsteen. I'm going on 40 years of not knowing Bruce Springsteen.