Hello,
I went with "Tried it," but that is not entirely correct. I used HTPC's for Sagetv and MC (for music) for a couple of years. I found that I hated having to fire up the TV to play music, so after a while I bit the bullet and went with sonos for playback and MC for all ripping and management.
When the Sagetv HD200 extenders came out I moved completely away from HTPC's. No more windows issues, codec issues etc. No more, " Daddy, the TV doesn't work again." Thin clients/extenders have just worked really well for me.
With Sagetv having been assimilated into the Gorg, I am looking for options, and I honestly believe I am just going to go with Directv's new 5 tuner DVR. I can deal with the learning curve to set up another PVR solution, but I am not willing to deal with HTPC's at every TV again. I could go with WMC, but that will require a big, loud, ugly xbox at every TV. A big loud ugly xbox that will not play my kids movie rips.
I would love to go with MC for TV, but I am not willing to fool with full on HTPC clients any more. If some sort of thin client were available I would be all over it.
M.