"DiMarzio used to say that one wiring option sounded like a P-Bass and with the switch thrown sounded more like a Rick."
There may be some truth in that. In my Attitude it sounds warm and fuzzy, but unfocused, and on my Hoyer Eagle single-coilish, I assume they chose the Ric wiring there.
I'd say a Model 1 lacks the definiton of a TB Plus in the neck position and the ooomph of a TB Plus anywhere else. It's clearer overall though. I don't find it a very rockish sounding pup from my experiences with the Hoyer Eagle (it has two and is a neck-thru-maho bass) at all, that bass always sounded what today you would call boutiquish, very transparent, but not cold, assertive in treble and high mids, but lacking ooomph. Great to solo with, not so great for foundation work.
And on the Attitude, all it does is provide added sublows. All the aggressiveness and cut of the Attitude comes from the very hot DiMarzio P split coil which is probably the most assertive split coil I have ever played on any bass without active electronics.