Yes! "Violent agreement" !! I intentionally left all "SW" out of my calculations. I have a couple hundred VHS tapes (a few "bootlegs"), several hundred DVDs (that I mostly will not replace, upconverts look substantially OK), and 100+ HD DVDs/BDs combined and growing. But in fact that is also a significant consideration in the upgrade to any newer technology for those of us who choose to own instead of or in addition to "renting". I expect the next technologies will be a combination multi-layer optical and broadband delivery from various sources, and to be sure our investments in the SW are likely to be significant...again...!
I mentioned earlier that I have been a "first adopter" in some cases. My first Hi-Fi VCR cost $1,000. The replacement - included in the HT calculation - was $500. The only one surviving now cost less than $100. My single projection and two flatscreen TVs were bought early in their product lifecycles so I overpaid for both. But overall I tend to wait a bit, and now will make that a policy. I waited for p2.0 before jumping into BD, for instance.
"Bleeding edge"...lol, but a lot of truth in that! Like you, I have the "best on the block" in my circle of generally tech-challenged friends/family, and historically my desire to maintain that edge - in addition to my own enjoyment - has led to the expenditures I mentioned and my expectations for the future. But I am a mere pretender in these forums of the most tech savvy and well-deployed folks there are...!
I mentioned earlier that I have been a "first adopter" in some cases. My first Hi-Fi VCR cost $1,000. The replacement - included in the HT calculation - was $500. The only one surviving now cost less than $100. My single projection and two flatscreen TVs were bought early in their product lifecycles so I overpaid for both. But overall I tend to wait a bit, and now will make that a policy. I waited for p2.0 before jumping into BD, for instance.
"Bleeding edge"...lol, but a lot of truth in that! Like you, I have the "best on the block" in my circle of generally tech-challenged friends/family, and historically my desire to maintain that edge - in addition to my own enjoyment - has led to the expenditures I mentioned and my expectations for the future. But I am a mere pretender in these forums of the most tech savvy and well-deployed folks there are...!