Very interesting thread, and makes me feel vindicated for sticking with 2.1, in a music-first configuration.
I appreciate the nod to "artistic liberty" with sound effects as well; i.e., handguns that sound like shotguns (and make clicking noises every time they're touched or leveled). Same reason tires squeal on gravel; knives go "shinggg" every time they're drawn, even from a leather scabbard; and leading men's voices are usually heavily processed to sound deep and authoritative, even outdoors, without regard for credible, scene-appropriate acoustics. Once you notice these things, you can notice nothing else, and it becomes insanely distracting.
I just don't see the point in bothering to care about fidelity in movie sound reproduction when even presented as intended, it's just silly, and more often subtracts from, rather than adds to, enjoyment of the story (which for me is still the point). But that's just me, and I'm a crusty old fart.
Regardless: I definitely appreciate learning of the contortions an engineer goes through to accommodate unpredictable consumer environments. Hat tip for caring about excellence in the face of such adversity...