Gonk: Regarding the SA8000HD, I share your surprise and feelings about SA. However, the installer implied that it was a firmware issue with the SA8000HD, that it might have this capability in the future, he just didn't know when. He further stated that there was a major disagreement between the installers and marketing, with the installers feeling they need to tell people about the product and marketing keeping quiet. I guess if you are using an HDTV without a HT receiver system (not part of the outlaw target audience) this functionality gap is meaningless.

FWIW, I also share your experience with SA boxes in general. Fortunately, TW will let you switch from a SA box to a Pioneer HD box that does the same conversion as the Pace boxes.