Many of us have pre-HDMI gear that we wish to use, and we can - and do - use it. That will not change with the Model 998.

If a surround processor has a network connection, that RJ45 jack is tied to an Ethernet adapter. The only hardware involved that has any direct relationship to a network switch in that component is the RJ45 jack itself. Everything else is separate and different. If you want a built-in network switch, do you really think it will be magically cheaper than a standalone switch that is produced in very large quantities by companies that do nothing else? Outlaw would have to buy the guts of a switch from one of those companies and put it in their product. Sure, they could add a 5-port or 8-port switch to the processor for under $100 (which is still more than that $50 port we're talking about for a separate switch), but if the companies that make switches for a living are charging hundreds of dollars for gigabit switches, you should expect the same sort of price for integrating gigabit into a surround processor. There's no good reason to add 5% or 10% to the price of a surround processor to include a network switch, but adding 20% or more to the price to include a gigabit switch is insane.