Agree on all points. The store had a couple of 8k models on display just to demonstrate the technology, but the sales guys were quick to emphasize that there is basically no 8k content on the market at this time. What we saw in the store was amazing but it was all specially made demo videos — again, just to demonstrate the technology. I asked how soon 8k might start to appear. Well, no one wants to bet against the rate of advance in such fields, but the sense of the people we talked to was that a bit of content would start to appear within five years but that it will be much longer before 8k content is common. 4k looks like the standard for the foreseeable future.
8k OLEDs are also ridiculously expensive now, but everyone expects prices to decline dramatically as production begins to scale up.
Pros and cons of soundbars:
1. Inexpensive compared to a true surround system with 5.1. (left, center, right, rear right, rear left), plus a dedicated sub-woofer.
2. Easy set up.
3. Latest tech actually gives a quasi surround sound, but not from the back. You may want to hear the jets flying from the back to the front.
Pros and cons of 5.1 true surround sound.
1. Needs a dedicated receiver to power and balance the speakers front to back and side to side, plus center speaker (crucial). Unless you have a large room, any Pioneer, Sony, etc. with 70 watts per channel will be more than enough.
2. True surround sound once you get your system balanced according to your seating distance from the 4k.
3. Adjusting balance can be time consuming, but once done correctly, you will be sitting in a theater. I use an old Radio Shack sound meter when adjusting my surround. There other inexpensive meters.
4. Can be expensive depending on the receiver and speakers you want.
5. Wiring is more involved than a soundbar. If you're not familiar with the cabling in back, it can be daunting.
Any questions? I'm an audio/video hobbyist so I can probably answer most questions.