I think the $1000 is just a generality arisen from the proximity to price of the 990. More important than the comparisons between $99 receivers, $1K and $5K pre/pros, is the fact that you can actually purchase a fully-outfitted pre/pro for around $1K nowadays. I remember when I first looked into separates, that stereo-only preamps went for $1500 or more, and HT models even higher.

Kind of strange that decent, entry level pre/pros have come down in price in recent years, and yet the top end receivers keep getting more expensive ($6K at last check). Well, perhaps not quite so strange as gratifying...