I'm a little late here but it sounds like you found what you were looking for Jason.
I wanted to give anyone else who might be pursuing a surround AV receiver another suggestion:
Integra.
There stuff is phenominal. I recently bought one of their new DTR-40.2s and it is amazing, simply a joy.
I have a couple of friends in the Custom Home Audio/Theater business (one with AudioVisions and one with Creative Concept Sound Solutions (both amazing companies down here in So Cal)) and they turned me on to them.
Integra is actually Onkyo's high end offshoot brand (yet the pricing is relatively exceptional).
http://www.integrahometheater.com/