Looks like the price pressure is going to be intense. I did some preliminary shopping today and found the Onkyo TX-NR3008 on Amazon for $1299 (free shipping if you subscribe to Amazon Prime). It's rockin' the Audyssey MultEQ XT32 goodness. For another $50, there's also the Onkyo TX-NR3009 which also sports MultEQ XT32. Both offer all the current bells and whistles that you'd come to expect from a modern AVR (but mostly missing in the proposed Outlaw 978). I'm sure Denon/Marantz won't be far behind in aligning their prices.

Edit: Even Crutchfield is getting in on the action. For $999 you can get the Onkyo TX-NR818. Also rockin' Audyssey MultEQ XT32.

Best,