Oh yeah. And back then, Beats were considered overpriced fashion statements that sounded like crap, although they did improve a lot over the years, and especially after Apple bought them. But that, combined with the snake oil HDMI cables, didn't exactly paint a positive image.
There aren't 2 separate stereo speakers either. But it technically counts as 2.1 as long as the 3 channels are processed independently and are capable of playing sounds that are distinct from one another, regardless of whether they are in separate enclosures or not.
Also, the speakers don't necessarily interfere with one another, depending on how well they design the soundbar. There are Dolby Atmos soundbars that produce the effect of 10 channels very convincingly.