What about software updates, though? They might be able to address some of these issues down the road.
That’s probably one of the biggest benefits of using one of the consoles for playback, as not many standalone players give you upgradable firmware.
I will also say this about the format war. Look at the list of companies that make each type of player in Post #103. Who would you rather buy from? I refuse to buy a Toshiba product based upon the garbage I’ve seen from them in the past working service (I’ve heard the Onkyo is a Toshiba inside, too). I’ve heard about problems with Toshiba’s players locking up. OTOH, the Blu Ray camp is loaded with reputable CE companies that I have a little more faith in. I know Denon certainly makes a good product.