As you know, VHF and UHF communications are pretty much limited to line of sight, so even if you could 100 watts on MURS, you will still have big limitations on coverage based on your terrain. Having a good gain antenna up as high as you can get it will help out far more than raising the transmitter output of your transceiver.
The question you might ask yourself is, what do you want to use MURS for? I haven't figured that one out yet.
For local communications, both fixed base and mobile, I think CB (particularly SSB mode) has much better coverage.
Radio waves at 27 mhz tend to go around hills and buildings much better than VHF/UHF signals. Running stock power output, I easily cover a 30-40 mile radius on CB.
If you want to keep in touch with you family via radio, GMRS is a better way to go, especially if someone in your area has a repeater that you can use. Then you have effective communications that cover a wide area. Of course, you need to pay for the license, but it basically costs $16 a year ($80 for a 5 year license) and covers you and everyone in your immediate ( and to some extend, your extended) family.
If you want to have fun playing with radios of all types and on lots of different frequencies, then amateur radio is the way to go. HF/VHF/UHF/SHF, all modes, simplex, repeaters, etc.
So when someone figures out a good use for MURS, please let me know.