My setup is a PS3 + PlayOn (http://www.themediamall.com/playon). If price is an issue, there are cheaper options than a PS3. Here's a list: http://www.themediamall.com/forums/media-devices
What youre looking for is a media streamer that is DLNA-compliant. Once youve purchased PlayOn, check playonplugins.com for more content. Between the native content supported by PlayOn and the plugins at playonplugins.com I stream Netflix, Hulu, Amazon VOD, CBS, YouTube, CNN, ESPN, South Park, Crackle, Syfy, and more.

Lastly, I don't wanna start a flame war but do NOT listen to those telling you to connect your PC to your TV with an HDMI (or other) cable. There's one MAJOR drawback theyre not mentioning: Controlling everything you watch by using your laptop/PC instead of a remote control is a serious PITA. I tried that setup for a while but got sick of it. Invest a little cash in a cheap media streamer and PlayOn (or TVersity). You won't regret it.

And these companies wonder why Netflix is kicking their asses...

If youre willing to buy used, GoHastings.com has a B2G1 sale on used Blu-rays every so often.

I voted PS3 for the load times alone. I recently watched a Blu-ray on a friend's Sony Blu-ray player and the wait was agonizing. It took 2 minutes to boot up and another 2 minutes to load the disc. Then the menus were sluggish! Ridiculous.

Richard, you really need to add Netflix as a choice in the poll. For an extra few dollars a month, I get access to every Blu-ray on the planet. I use my Netflix discs to get my Blu-ray fix, then I use Netflix Instant View + PlayOn for my Dexter fix. Life is good.

If its purely for gaming, go for 7.1. There are already a few games on the market that have 7.1 and more games will probably have 7.1 soon (unlike movies where my guess is that it will take a really long time before 7.1 is standard). As for TV, go with a plasma of at least 42". My TV is actually an LCD (or more accurately an SXRD) but I've decided plasma just looks sharper to me.
My setup:
Sony KDS-60A3000
PlayStation 3 60GB
Sony HT-DDW670 HTiB
Terk HDTVa
PlayOn

Unless the extra cost is minimal, go with 5.1. Remember that 7.1 capable doesn't mean you're actually getting 7.1 audio; most movies don't have a 7.1 audio soundtrack--even the awesome ones like The Dark Knight and Iron Man. By the time 7.1 is standard, you'll be ready to buy a new receiver.

P.S. Do make sure that the receiver can do Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD, etc. That won't cost much and pretty much every Blu-ray movie has an HD audio soundtrack.

"...the real question for Sony's sake is how many have gone ahead and purchased some of those fancy discs..."
Not really. When I rent Blu-rays for my PS3 from Netflix, Sony still benefits.
"it's time for Sony to stop putting tedious advertisements for Blu-ray players at the beginning of its Blu-ray discs..."
Agreed!

Nah. If its a choice between 5.1 standard Dolby and 2.0 HD audio, I'll stick with surround sound.

Crap. Thanks for the answers, though.