I think the idea behind the 7.1 inputs on the 950 is simply future-proofing. "Just in case" -- since the 950 has the pre-amp outs for those channels, they went ahead and provided multi-channel analog inputs for all of them. It is true that two of those inputs will not be used initially. That doesn't make this a bad thing. Maybe they'll never be used at all. Or maybe the multi-channel world will branch out and you'll start seeing DVD-A or SACD with 6.1 or 7.1 outputs. If that were to happen, most existing receivers and pre-amps would be out of luck. Will it happen? Probably not, but the Outlaws apparently figured the cost to provide that extra bit of security was small.