Any thoughts? Yes.
I, too, don't often update. I bought a receiver with Dolby ProLogic around 1991 or so. Happy with it till I (very late in the game) learned about 5.1 Bought a Vantas unit which supposedly "tracks" the main R&L and with three built-in amps tells the center and surrounds what to do, and you can plus or minus to a degree. Never thought it was exceptional and also I could hear it "pump" or "work". Wife never understood it, nor my other [what I considersimple"] hookup. So for reasons you mentioned and for those in the thread above I'm going with the 990.

For one thing I think its "platforms" will be stable for awhile, including HDMI vs DVI and certainly the upsampling and other audio new features.

My only decision is whether to go with a 5 ch (i.e. 755) or 3 M200's and use my present stereo power amp (Crown DC300A-II). Certainly it has the power to spare for the surrounds.

The issues with amps will be discussed elsewhere.
Good luck to all of us including Outlaw/Scott etc. We just can't wait to get our ears around this new baby.