I've played for about 44 years - started learning when I was 8 and still learning.
I'm not Scottish but my wife is a Scotsman's daughter and she loves the pipes as well as Single Malt Whisky.
Have played at weddings and funerals - sound is best when out in the open or in a large vaulted church.
There are some fantastic tunes for occasions - Highland Cathedral is a great one for a large band at a church or hall. Look it up on youtube.
If you think one player is loud, then obviously a band is louder. However for maximum impact, there is nothing that comes close to a massed band for leaving a lasting impression. Final Parade of the massed bands at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo will give you a feel.
In Sydney Australia, we have an annual parade for the War veterans - we call it the Anzac Day Parade. At the end of the Parade, all the bands mass together to march back down the route to the war memorial, as a Scottish Act of Remembrance.
To be part of 300+ pipers and about 200 drummers in a single band is both a thrill and an honour. if you jump to about 30 second mark, you can hear how loud we are even when still in the distance.
Tim