My thoughts exactly! I figure it will be years before there will be another product as good and as functional/versatile as the Empeg. That's why I've taken my precautions and got myself 3 units now. Two will be used on more or less permanent basis, the third one won't leave it's box until one of the other two gets damaged beyond repair.
Pioneer and Sony still got a long LONG way to go. And the funny part is (if you like that kind of humour) that those new units cost approx. the same as the Empeg did. For a lot LESS features. If those things become a success, it will tell a lot about how stupid people really are. AND SonicBlue, for never having marketed the product properly.