[And what bass management issues are you referring to? I have no problem setting mine up and keeping it in good tune.]
When dvd audio first came out, I purchased a Sony ES digital surround preamp and paired it with separate amps. When it was set up to 5.1 and digital management, it seemed like I was always going through menu's to adjust the LFE channel (problem solved with a 4.0 system). Then there are the discs out there that have zero or little info in the LFE channel so that expensive subwoofer aint got nothin to do. The Moody Blues SACD's) are a prime example of this! I don't know how you listen to discs like this is if you have small right and left front channels that are bass shy. When I had my 5.1 set up, I remember taking a feed from an extra RCA out on the Oppo and routing it to the LFE, which sounded pretty good with the Moodies discs.` My LFE channel set up consisted of a JBL L212 System sub and I didn't have room to set it right in the middle of the front speakers along with the center channel, so it was off to the side. Bass is supposed to be "non-directional" but if it isn't centered between the front speakers it always sounded to me like it was off balanced to the side the sub was on and it made me wish I had a balance control to adjust it (problem solved with a 4.0 system). Now, a good 4.0 system might require a player that folds the bass and center correctly into the right and left channels and the OPPO surely does that. By reading your posts, I can see you are a really knowledgeble surround guy and a real hobbyist, but there are number of posts on forums of people having trouble with these complex modern systems, including getting their bass properly set up. If manufacturers had stayed with 4.0 and simplified it to "plug and play" maybe we wouldn't be a "niche" group of misfits. Since I got rid of my center and LFE, I have not noticed any detrimental effects to the surround sound field and seem to enjoy my 5.1 music (and I guess 7.1) just as much as before, not to mention that it sure took a lot of extra stuff out of my room. My 4 large speakers are Jbl Horizons and JBL L112's (all 12" 3 ways). The fronts are on stands and the rears are built into the back wall (all are ear level). At any rate, thanks for your post, i enjoyed reading it. Getting other viewpoints is what makes this forum great.