I used to tweak all my high-tech gizmos. Every couple of years I am always updating or upgrading--not just my stereo/HT, but computers, phones, cars, and game systems platforms. I just don't have the time or inclination any more. I guess I am probably on my 10th receiver now and about the same with my smart cell phone, game system, and computer.
Before, I used to spend hours and hours researching all of the features and different models to purchase. When I finally made a choice, I thought it was an informed decision and the latest technology. Whenever I received a new component, I used to be so excited, I would spend hours and hours drooling over and reading the manuals and tweaking the system for the best operation and output. That was then, this is now. I guess I just got old, or maybe too desensitized with all of the constant format/technology changes.
I guess if you put it into perspective, 8 years ago I purchased my first windows smart phone. I spent hours and hours reading the 1" thick, 270 page book figuring it all out. When my carrier was bought out, and my phone was no longer functional, the new smart phone I had to purchase came with another huge book that had to be read--which I did sort of unwilling. That phone kept breaking (a motoralla MPX220) and finally was recalled and a different model substitute was given. I never read the book to that one, I just kept pushing buttons to figure it out--it no longer created the emotional interest in my inner "gizmo" brain center. Several phones later, I never read any of those books either. When I needed it set-up to access my email--that is what the ATT's tech support help is for.
I guess that is kind of where my current home theater set-up is. I know what I want it to do. I know what looks and sounds good, and I just want it to do it all by itself--at a reasonable cost. I think I overspent on some of my components (Pioneer Elite receivers and Samsung Bluray) just so that they would be smart--so I would not have to. I did spend hours and hours setting them up (had no clue as to what most of the stuff was for)--and then tossed the book in the file cabinet never needed again until I tried to add an HDMI PCM stream when I added a bluray.
I guess I am more interested in watching movies with a high-quality picture and amazing soundtracks than I am with the nuts and bolts of putting it together. I still have no clue as to what most of the features of my receiver do. There are fifty bilion different sound/movie decoders that seem to do nothing (as far as I know). I know when it selects everything by itself, movies and audio look and sound great.
Appathetic I know, but I guess it is sort of true. This new kind of thinking is not just with me, but exists with the rest of my family and I find it almost everywhere in the younger generation. Nobody, and I mean nobody in my house will take the time to read an operators manual for anything. From grandma/grandpa, wife, to the kids, I am the person they always go to for set-up and problem troubleshooting. Not to be more negative, but about the time I truly figure out how to work a component, it will be obsoleted--or break. I have found electonics have a very short life and need constant attention to operate at peak--this is not just with HT, but computers, phones, etc. Electronics are not made the way they used to be, I just recently got rid of a Sony Trinitron TV I have had for over 30 years--it works flawlessly, but in rearranging components, my garage now has a flatscreen which I seriously doubt will last half as long as the Trinitron. Stuff just is not designed to last--and if the durability doesn't kill it, the "planned obsolence" from the manufacturer will.
I find my computer updates itself automatically about once a day. My new bluray players and my Pioneer Elite receivers have RJ45s for internet updates. My Samsung bluray player, when it arrived new in the box required an update to make it work correctly--and it was brand new! The entire industry is so changing that even the manufacturers know when they produce products that they will need software updates just to continue working. I am just tired of fiddling with everything to make it work--I just do not have the time or inclination.
I am also tired of the 10 billion remote controls--so I use one of the Harmony technology Monster remotes that operate by activity, turning on all devices and setting all inputs/outputs to what I want the system to do.
The KISS principle applies; Keep it Simple Stupid.