Well, they don't call them preamp/ processors for noything. The more features you attempt to to build into a processor for the customer (Hi-Def video processing, HDMI switching, Dolby Volume, Audessy/Trinnov room eq/ signal processing, full 2 and 3 zone control, I-pod connectivity, Firewire, fancy OSD's, etc., etc...), the more processing power is required to pull it off. Gone are the days of descrite componentry and simple, robust design archetectures. You're essentially buying a computer so software/ firmware implementation & compatability are major techological hurtles to overcome. It's amazing that the engineers are still able to pull it off IMHO.