Well, this is a combined multichannel/digital circle. So....
I agree with Rosconey.
I've been using a 2.1 HT system for a couple of years and haven't missed those other 3 channels. I investigated HT a couple of different times over the years and each time I found that every store used the same two tracks for auditions. Felt too much like the 4 channel fiasco from 30 years ago for me and for the speaker budget I had in mind I much preferred the quality I could get with just two speakers versus five. (At that time my audio and HT was together on one system.) Let me quality all this by stating that HT has an universally low importance throughout this household. The stuff was in place for 4 months before anyone else wondered what it was and still it only gets used for occasional TV concerts or special effects movies.
IMO we could be on the edge of an explosion of pure/straight HT offerings similar to the Sony DVD/receivers. Most things you buy depreciate in value, so the economic measure of whether it's a good deal for you is if the enjoyment/utility you derive from it is greater than the rate of depreciation. For instance on computers it amounts to roughly $100/month for internet charges, supplies, and depreciation. For Rosconey's Toshiba players it's about $5/month. A hedge would be to buy a player now that mods should be available for later, like the Denon 2200, but my guess is that the modded 563 beats it.
