To respond to a couple odd posts: Ehmmm, yeah in retrospect ZooTV shows are a lot alike, so are Popmart shows. But REMEMBER, in 92-93, people didn't have the internet to look up setlists like we do now, and most people only go to 1 show. Even in '97 most people didn't have the internet to look up setlists...so to say that because the bootlegs are the same or whatever doesn't say say a freakin thing about the actual tour back when it was actually happening.
Axver, you say "forget the 15 minute rendition of bad, that doesn't fit in with the stupid technology!" If you've ever watched the boot dvd's from ZooTV and Popmart, you'd get a pretty good picture that they could do a 15 minute rendition if they wanted to. ZooTV and Popmart, during the classics(pre-Achtung stuff), had very basic visuals that could be modified to the song. For example, tonight I watched ZooTV Stockholm and saw a 7 and a half minute rendition of bad/all I want is you snippet---it could have been stretched as long as the band wanted....also TTTYAATW was at least double length as on the album.
To answer the original question, yes I think ZooTV is probably U2's most impressive tour. The stage, the technology, the songs, the alter egos---complete artwork and creatively above any 80's tour or the Elevation Tour. Popmart is also up there with ZooTV, but U2 weren't competely redefining themselves like with ZooTV.
I dig ZooTV/Popmart because the band has more attitude--so when they drop the act it makes their humanity shine all the brighter.