And perhaps a series of onscreen menu's, one for "normal everday" usage that family members might see and a "configuration set of menu's that might include all of the options. As long as we are at it, how about an XML based configuration, so that not only the default and current versions of the configuration file are saved but previous versions. That way if you make a tweak and it doesn't work out, not everything is lost.

Gonk - I know you seem to be worried about the cost/complications, but as I read what people want, the more it seems like an embedded Linux control system is the easiest way to get there. Heck if Outlaw really wanted to do it right, they could have an option to run remote support (with the owner's approval) and perhaps run a series of diagnostic programs/review log files that would not involve shipping the product back and forth. If a unit was found to have a bug, they might even be able to put on or test patch code on the problem unit (again with the owner's approval).