Trying not to be negative - just trying to ensure a level playing field for comparison.

Many (former and current) software engineers here will have been in that invidious position of having the software and hardware vendors pointing at each other when something breaks. When they both come from the same supplier there is only one place to go for support.

I bought into Sooloos because it was a complete, integrated, end-to-end packaged solution that was both expandable and upgradeable and I do not regret that decision. Sooloos being opened up to a wider range of platforms and user interfaces is great news. Personally, I don't have the time to invest in building and stabilising a bespoke music server from different components from multiple suppliers (for that is the new model being offered after all) but other people (rightly) enjoy those challenges.

In the spirit of Spinaltap, I would like to confirm that I am not involved in the corrupt theft of a global sport.