RItz, I'm not sure if you've noticed, but the 978 won't be an AVR. I don't think that anyone looking at the 978 is in the market for an AVR. If you believe an AVR is a substitute for a Pre-Pro, well, good luck to you. Oranges and Apples. And you're also looking at Onkyo. Onkyo. Oranges and Apples.
As far as I'm concerned, an AVR with pre-outs is the same as a pre-pro. All of the units I mentioned have pre-outs. Outlaw would seem to feel the same way since their "temporary" pre-pro offerings have all been AVR's.
As for your dig at Onkyo...it wasn't that long ago that Outlaw was reselling them as their pre-pro offering. You'd think they'd only choose the best stuff to resell to their clients, no?