Posting from them road, so I will be brief.

Both the 990 and the BDP-83 offer a lot of options for setup. My guides are intended to get the combo or one of the other Outlaw combos set up optimally for most typically use. I have heard or more than one 990 owner using the 7.1 analog input almost exclusively, and I think that's an excellent choice. I think people should try the coaxial or optical connection for DVD/CD first, just so they have made an informed decision.

The stereo analog output on the BDP-83 is more robust than the 7.1 analog. OPPO designed it that way on purpose. I didn't mention it in my setup guide because I was trying to keep it focusd on the "essentials."