Two HDMI outs would be nice. On the other hand, I watch most regular TV on my Sony HD WITHOUT using my HT audio system. So, some kind of switcher in advance of the pre/pro is always going to be needed in my setup, unless I want to use the pre/pro 100 percent of the time when I'm viewing (which I don't).

This is another of those can't-be-everything-to-everybody features, similar IMO to the presence of a phono input (discussed in another 997 thread). Some will need it, others won't, so the circumspect decision is probably to omit it from the base unit (along with the associated increase in price) and let those who need it find their own solutions (as I have for HDMI AND for phono input).