Gee, let's see. . . .if I had to pick a receiver or pre/pro, what would it be. . . .

Here's an idea: What about Outlaw? A 1050 to cut costs and serve as an intermediate step (because it has pre/pro output) to separates when the budget allows. Then (or now, if the $$ are there), a 950 + amps (Outlaw or others).

Need a pro for the pre?: Yes.

Speakers? I'm a Klipsch fan (they sponsor a board/forum that rivals Outlaw), and I would start looking on eBay and Audiogon for 6 or 7 identical or timbre-matched speakers--in older smaller models, maybe KG 2; in newer models, maybe Quintet.