HDMI Version 1.3 (or better) A/V inputs (four or more)... must allow for all HDMI certified audio and video permutations with fully transparent digital video pass through switching.

HDMI outputs (perhaps two)

Firewire A/V inputs/outputs. Perhaps at least one of each for legacy support.

Cut down on costs and back panel real estate by having a lot fewer standard toslink and coaxial inputs because everything seems to be going HDMI. The same with DVI (just eliminate it) because you can use an adapter if need be.

Multiple 32 bit audio processing engines that allows for true 24/192 resolution manipulation (from tone control to parametric equalization, etc.) and high end upconversion of lower resoluton sources on all channels for all formats.

Apogee pro-grade master clock (or something similar in quality for less jitter and error rates across the board).

Multiple sophisticated DSP engines to handle onboard decoding of ALL permutations and resolutions/channels of (this will take A LOT of horsepower):

DTS-HD (lossy and bit-for-bit master lossless modes)

Dolby Digital TrueHD Lossless

Dolby Digital Plus

Uncompressed 24/192, 8 channel LPCM

[and if possible] true Direct Stream Digital (DSD)

DSP mode that will allow stereo back channel matrix decoding for 2 channel up to 5.1 channel material... perhaps Dolby ProLogic IIx can be applied to any and all formats when the user requires it.

8 channel decoding for all formats can be user defaulted to ON until you want to turn that feature OFF. Let's say your watching such and such a format with a stereo source and you want ProLogic IIx (8 channel decode mode with stereo matrix back surrounds), then you jump to a DTS-HD (or Dolby Digital TrueHD) track with 5.1 or 6.1 channels and want to create stereo back channel decoding using Dolby ProLogic IIx, then 8 channel decoding stays ON all the way through. Or if you're going from a stereo surround source using ProLogic IIx and then popping over to a track on Blu-Ray with 8 discrete channels... 8 channel mode stays on the whole time. This feature is like what new Denon receivers do and is easier then having to turn on 8 channel surround decoding EVERY single time you change to a different audio format that isn't flagged as such (like with your Outlaw 950, which I own). Obviously, if the data is flagged for discrete back channels anyway (such as uncompressed LPCM tracks, or Dolby TrueHD or DTS-HD Lossless), the processor would allow that instruction to take over. Complicated explanation, I know.

Pro-grade Wolfsen (or better) premium audio DAC's (that can handle 24/192 and greater resolutions and sampling rates) on all channels. Double DAC's for all channels, if there is a sonic advantage to running in dual-differential mode.

High end, ultra-low noise parts

Durable circuit boards

Adequate ventilation and quiet cooling (these newer formats and DSP engines require lots of decoding power, and I'm sure the chips get much hotter than before).

Software (user based) and hardware upgradeable (need enough extra data storage headroom for software and format changes and additions, with MIPS processing to spare)

Multiple, low noise power supplies

Fully balanced topography

XLR balanced outputs for all channels.

Stereo (or even surround) subwoofer outputs (XLR too)

Extra assignable audio outputs (XLR and RCA) in case mixers want to use the 8 channel discrete capabilites of Blu-Ray & HD-DVD for extra screen channels and/or height channels besides the regular 7.1 speaker layout (it could happen!).

Output for bass shakers with adjustable crossover frequencies (if possible within a certain cost outlay).

Fully adjustable delay, crossovers, and slopes for ALL channels.

32 bit, no loss quality, full range parametric equalization for all channels.

Total processing/tone bypass control.

At least one high bandwidth 5.1 or 7.1 analog input with no digital conversion (strait to volume control) and a properly working, properly phased full-analog 80 Hz crossover (switchable).

NO TUNER

NO LCD FRONT PANEL (one more thing to wear out!)

User assignable input/output names

No need for fluffy bells and whistles... just a lean, mean, high quality A/V machine that can go up against the likes of Arcam and other high end brands noted for their pristine audio quality.

And other necessary stuff...

If you can do this for $2,500 and can get good reviews I'd bite!