I definitely agree with the parallel spaced directional mics. Makes me wish I had Fig8's available to try Gut's recommendation for this type of set up in small clubs (we've got one here in Denver that is a good candidate for this). Truthfully, I've never tried parallel spaced directional mics (cards in my experience) in small clubs, only in larger venues... parallel spaced cards can also be a great way to run far back in arenas if you don't have hypers at your disposal (or even if you do).
FWIW, I haven't used parallel spaced directionals farther back in a small club either, but I think using hypers that way could work especially well as that pattern and config would provide the maximum forward sensitivity and the minimal room pickup possible. The figure 8 recommendation was to specifically address the far off center, close to one stack location. But generally, when farther back in a small room I'd think spaced hypers or cards would probably work better than 8's because they pickup less from behind. Exception might be a situation with bad slap echo or nasty reflections from the side walls but relatively benign sound arriving from behind.
[edit- you posted while I was typing.. sounds like we're on the same page, acidjack]