anyday...
I was like you those days... function packed HU always in the list... P9650, P8850, 9815, 9835, 9855, 7998...
First introduced a DSP, H701 into my setup, paired it with 7998... from then on, never went back... all serious permanent setup, will budget a DSP into it.
Nowadays even cheaper because cars comes with DVD touch screens and the sorts... add in a DSP then your system starts portraying what you need in an instance...
Yes, function packed HU comes with things you could do with a DSP, but there is always a limitations. active or passive setup... it all does has its limitations.
add in a DSP... your tuning horizons broaden by "old roads, to Plus Highways", yea you do have to pay some "tolls"... both could bring you to where you want to go... but one reaches faster, in a more relaxed manner with stops you could rest about and plan the rest of the journey, the other... nah... just hope for the best, possibly gets lost half way and make a big u-turn around later...
My previous sorta total lost of interest on ICE was when I took out my 7998 + H701 and put in a DENON HU and revamp from active to passive setup... Its that poisonous, its that addictive...