Allow me to paint with a broad brush here and produce a stereotype. Correct me if you think my observation is wrong or just let me know what you think.
The idea I’m picking up here is that we HT fans are ready to embrace new ideas/technologies, as evidenced by the high use of mail order DVD services. But we’re also unwilling to participate in any
convenience technology that might sacrifice quality sound and vision.
There are different “tech” crowds like PC and other gadget freaks who arrived at HT not from hi-fi but from other digital technologies. They’re the ones (I suspect) that are embracing digital media players like the Rio Receiver, Olive Opus, Roku etc.
Is it safe to say that many of us who are old enough had a component based two channel stereo system before we had a Home Theater system? And that we'd probably have a stereo system still, even if HT didn’t exist.
I know I would!
And yeah, I for sure reject
most technology that provides “convenience” at a cost of quality. I only embrace MP3s because the convenience factor is so extreme (a library on a tiny box that fits in the palm of my hand) for a relatively minor hit in quality - because I use max or high-bit MP3s.
I bet there are many old school hi-fi codgers out there who still scoff at the notion of MP3s. I know at least guy who retains a healthy skepticism to
dumbing down hi-fi for the sake of convenience.