A shape charge would be pointless because you can't guarantee how the device is worn- one news article mentioned most people carry them in their pockets, so a shape charge would be blowing most of the energy away from the target in 50% of the cases.
A shaped charge need not be unidirectional. It could be focuses along an axis, resulting in a two-way explosion that would be more damaging than a symmetrical one. Two copper disks on either side of the charge would constitute a functional two-way shaped charged.
I think the grocery store security video supports the two directions idea. If you watch carefully it looks like a pressure wave away from the target and clearly something takes the target down. Perhaps a pressure wave in the opposite direction too.
With a pager you can be pretty sure the target will be holding it with one hand and looking at the screen. Reports indicate the pagers beeped shortly before they went boom. So if the blast is focused in the plane normal to the screen that would focus it into the hand and face of the target. No idea whether that's actually a good idea or not.
Doing much more damage 50% of the time might be more effective, if an undirected explosion is too weak to kill anyone but a directed (and lucky) one could.
I've seen some videos. Shattered hips, abdominal wounds, hands without fingers. I haven't seen any dead person, just maimed bodies. Mission successful I guess. Oh and one kid.
