Someone else asked this question recently - there are folks who use the SMS-1 with Audyssey MultEQ, but the presence of room correction in the processor does reduce the justification for a standalone like the SMS-1. Trinnov, from what little I've heard about it from a Sherwood thread at AVS, sounds like it could be even a step up from Audyssey MultEQ, at which point the justification for keeping (or buying) an SMS-1 would probably start to dwindle appreciably.

As for the sale, it could be what you describe or it could be working to keep sales going with the recent economic turn-down (we won't use the "r" word). Or it could even be both, for all I know...