If they'd kept all 8 inputs, you could have used two Y cables to connect your 5.1 external device (DVD/A or whatever) and had the surround signal sent to all four of your rears, if you preferred. Or not.

I think it would have been nice if they'd left all 8 and put the crossover switch somewhere else, if nothing else than just for the futureproofing mentioned earlier in this thread. DVD/A & SACD are both 6 channel discrete formats, true, but who knows if/when either of them or their successors will be extended to add two more discrete channels.

Stereo LFE outs a la the ICBM would have been nice, too. :-)

Just my two cents. Of course I'm under no delusions that any of this is changing before the 950 ships.