Well $147 isn't bad at all if he can send the lossless audio out to his receiver somehow, unless he doesn't care about going next gen sound as well.
IMO the stand alones are just too expensive right now for the ones with the features I care about for audio quality. Connecting them online and all that doesn't matter aside for firmware updates. That brings up another point about the PS3, it has built in Wifi on all the new models I believe. Plus Sony has been providing firmware updates and will probably continue to do so adding more value.
I'd probably be on the sideline still if it weren't for the PS3 packing in blu and Toshiba dumping inventory at ridiculous prices. That sad, I can't go back to DVD now as I'm thoroughly hooked on blu-ray
