Smells like the Quadraphonic craze in the late 60s early 70s. Suspect it will not last as long given the rapidity of tech change today.
How many people actually use the 7.2 Dolby vs 5.1 vs plain stereo to watch movies? How many new movies are even watchable for that matter. (Can’t wait for LeBrons Commie Jam on Blueray... you?)
For music... why? So you can sit between the drums and the vocalist? That isn’t a sound stage. I could see some electronic music and rap using this, but most music... nope.
More Apple, crApple.
As for lossless, I can hear it but under lab conditions with a gold plated amp and money is no object speakers. On equipment under 10K+ in a non optimized room I can not. I guess if you have more money than brains spending more for the lossless to play in your car during your commute is a great deal.
I have been using 5.1 for decades. I didn't feel the need to add the extra channels, and most high-rez or multichannel music is only in 5.1 anyway. I mainly listen to classical music and there are a lott of lossless, high-rez recordings available. I can tell the difference, but I have always had good hearing.
However, I know few people who listen to their movies in surround sound. Most of them don't even bother to calibrate their TVs and leave them on "torch mode". Just because a lot of people are satisfied with a 79¢ speaker does not mean everybody else should be.
I'd guess that most middle class folks have some sort of surround system nowadays, even if small bookshelf speakers.
"For music... why? So you can sit between the drums and the vocalist? That isn’t a sound stage."
You'd be surprised playing certain music in surround can make a huge difference if you turn down or off or down the rear speakers. That still leaves the stereo of the instruments and leaves the dedicated center channel for vocals which is how the better recordings are mixed.
Regarding sound stage: I have tower Definitive Technology (DefTech) speakers in front. When placed correctly against walls, their front and rear facing tweeter and mid range drivers actually provide the depth of a sound stage by the rears bouncing off the wall and arriving at your ears mili-seconds later. BTW, DefTech dual array towers have their own powered sub-woofer in varying inches. I only use one since they are so powerful and usually at mid volume.
My rear speakers for movies are Mirage with the same front/back speaker array that tends to make them sound less directional for things like jet flyovers and such. It still provides the rear left and right, but with a subtle distinction. It's all a matter of adjustment with surround.
I've never upgraded to 7.1 because I'm happy with 5.1. Why add the side speakers on the wall if you adjust rear and front correctly? I'm sure there is some added benefit with sound coming from the rear, again a jet fly over.