Amen!

The thing too is that I really have tried to like the "me too" product offerings like the Denon 4520ci/ Marantz 8801 or the Onkyo 5509 / Integra 80.3. Been to the showrooms enough times that salesguy don't even ask me if I need help anymore...

Don't get me wrong, those products are quite nice, have really every feature under the sun, even seem to be nicely built. They are far better values that stuff like the NAD M15 or McIntosh MX121. (does not escape me that three of those manufacturers are "North American"...) I just really really really want to have top of the line room correction at a fair price.