As you know I have never believed very much in 5.1 audio, beileving
that one, two, or three channels were the right number.

It is very nice for not a lot more money. Of course, you
should always buy a setup meant for stereo music first.
This means full-range speakers in front that don't need
a subwoofer at all, for one(of course, this means a bigger
amplifier as well, but solutions exist liek Outlaw Audio
and at the higher end, Bryston makes a superb multi-channel
amplifier that really is like 5-7 monoblocks in a chassis
No corners cut, twenty year warranty, even on used ones.

In fact the only practical power solution as I
see it for 5.1 is the active speaker, having its own active crossover
and multiple amps, and a professional input-AES/EBU digital or +4, 600
ohm balanced in.

Passive works fine if you get the right speakers and enough
power to drive them.