I used to know a guy who had one of these, along with a regular contrabass and everything all the way up to a sopranino.
He was a very talented instrument repairman but eventually retired. Did a lot of club dates with various orchestras too.
Don't know what he's up to now.
There is one instrument I know that takes more air than that. The flute. (Believe it)
With the flute most of the air is wasted and not going through the instrument.
But I'd rather schlep the flute to the gig than a subcontrabass any day.