This thread created a lively discussion, so glad to see!
Reading through the comments it becomes quite clear that even mid level HT is a pretty niche market. I always figured there were lots and lots of people out there who had some semblance of a HT but that seems like wishful thinking at...
I recently walked into my local Best Buy (Victoria, Canada) and noticed a few things:
Basically no AV amplifiers for sale, there might have been 3 Onkyo for sale but nthing else
No Home Theater Room - pretty much completely dismantled, no TV, Amps to try, speakers etc.
No movies to buy except...