Until one can record using HDMI, analogue connections will be required for some form of recording device - be it a DVD Recorder or, in future, BDR (since I doubt that Hollywood will ever permit digital to digital recording.)

And I don't know what they might be, but just as we used to have a set of analogue RCA jacks that could be unjumpered to allow an external processor of some sort, I can imagine a future where one could insert some device in a similar fashion - only through the use of an HDMI connection.

Heck on the phono side, why not an external device that acts as a phone pre-amp / click and pop reducer / dynamic range expander, etc. all in one - with an HDMI output?

Just getting carried away.