I don't have Middle Atlantic shelves but think it's misleading to list any equipment's depth as the distance from the front to the back if there are cable connections back there. The functional size of any electronic unit should be the amount of space it requires, in each dimension, when it is actually in use. For a tuner-preamp that means it has to be conncected to, at the minimum, a stereo smplifier, at least one input device, and FM. The 990's functional depth is at least 20 inches - probably more if it's connected to amps with balanced cables, for which there are no right-angle adapters.

Giving functional dimensions in the specs (maybe by calling them "space required") would alert potential buyers to possible installation problems instead of leaving them to learn the hard way. It would also increase the reputation for integrity of the manufacturers who started doing it, and maybe even shame the rest into following their example.

I think it was Gandhi who said "Be the change you want to make."