I am with the OP on this one. I will go with, "this time it is different". First, the application of ATMOS isn't a major financial burden. It will appear in all new receiver and processor technology. However, the difference is that the extra speakers are not cutting edge and one can actually use smaller fronts then are traditionally seen. In most of the big time ATMOS applications I have seen, the speaker tech isn't a major investment and the speakers are not massive. It is with this distinction that I think M will struggle with the application of ATMOS and others. Well that and unwillingness to let the processor decode codecs.

I guess technically I could be throw into the group of people that "downgraded", but I did for other reasons as well. Primarily as I felt that M was leaving the analog speaker user behind. Like the OP, sticking with Sooloos and anxiously awaiting whatever major redo M offers for that.

Primary: MD600, MS200 (SpeakerLink to AES), Trinnov ST-2, Ayre V6-xe, Salk SS8 3x LRC.
Secondary: MC600 (whole house).
Zone one: 568.2, G57, MS200, Spatial Hologram M2SE.
Zone 2-6 (Awaiting assignment).