That X28 flare in 2003 wasn't directly facing earth. It was at the far right side of the sun from the vantage point of earth. It didn't cause a direct hit to earth with a coronal mass ejection. While the current sunspot AR1748 isn't currently earth directed now, it is getting there and is still spitting out X class flares. It recently caused another X1 flare at 0152 May 15 UT. (that makes 4 X class flares within 48 hours) This one is smaller than the last three but might have produced a CME that could affect earth (it's too early to say yet). Since radio waves have already been affected from the last three flares, their close timing might have a cumulative effect to a degree. I don't think a huge flare will bring us back to the stone age, but one can destroy a significant portion of our electric grid infrastructure. (These four are still not huge enough.) With the state of events in the world as they are today, I would be nervous about any widespread electrical or communications interuptions for more than a few days.
By the way, saying that we survived an X28 flare so we are perfectly safe in the future is like saying that I survived a gunshot from a guy spinning in a chair firing an assortment of bullet calibers in random directions and he missed the first time so I am safe in the future. It only takes one time under the right conditions to cause serious problems. The Carrington Event electrocuted telegraph operators and burned up wires. Imagine a similar event taking place today. Massive transformers could be destroyed, power company employees could be electrocuted (lengthening the time for repairs), our enemies (those not too affected) could take advantage of the situation and attack, communications could be down, anything operating on G.P.S. might not function; transportation, food services, water, and sewage treatment could be cut off. The flares that we've seen so far in the last 48 hours are highly unlikely to cause that kind of widespread damage, but a good sized double digit X class flare directly facing earth can cause a decent amount of trouble. I'm not worried about the flares that have already occured. I'm more concerned about the big ones that could happen in the coming days as the sunspot turns toward earth.