Simple questions about a simple setup

I've always been a two-channel guy. This is my first foray into the HT realm. I'd like to set up a basic 3.0 system. At this point, I don't have any interest in the surround channels yet. I have a slight idea about how to connect the different pieces of equipment, and would appreciate any comments from you.

First, these are the equipments:

- LCD TV: Sharp 46D62U
- Receiver: (not yet decided...probably a Marantz 5002...advice welcome)
- DVD player: (not yet decided...but not a blu-ray one...advice welcome)
- CD player: Sony CA8ES
- Speakers: Paradigm Signature S2 + will buy a Paradigm center channel.
- Cable: an HD box (non-recordable) from my cable provider (Cogeco)

I'd like to be able to watch the TV both with and without having to turn the receiver on. Here's the connections that I plan to do:

1) Cable box to TV: Compenent video plus a standard RCA (L-R) connection for audio. Cogeco told me that they don't support HDMI for this type of box (Motorola DCT 6200) even though the box is HDMI capable.

2) Cable box to receiver: A coaxial or optical connection for multi-channel audio. Question Considering that I already have an RCA L-R audio connection to the TV in the previous step, can I do this step? That is, can I have both types of connections going at the same time?

3) DVD player to TV: Either an HDMI, or component video plus L-R audio. Question: If I want to benefit form the upscaling capability of the DVd player, do I have to use HDMI? Or is component video also OK?

4) DVD player to receiver: A coaxial or optical connection. Question: Again, can I do this considering that I already connect L-R audio to the TV?

5) CD player to receiver: A simple RCA connection or an optical connection (Can I do both?)

6) Receiver to speakers: Standard three-channel connections

That's it. Does this work? I think this scheme will allow me to watch the TV or DVD with or without having to turn on the receiver.

Any suggestions are welcome and appreciated. I'd also appreciate your advice about what receiver to get. I can spend up to $,1000 but I don't want to spend more than I have to, considering my simple setup. Thanks.

Hi rynberg and Iwien...Thanks for the reply. I understand that it will be much more ergonomic to connect everything through the receiver. But the problem is the wife (what else?, Ha! Ha!). She just likes to watch the TV and DVD the way it currently is. Well...maybe she'll change her mind after she has a taste of what the HT setup sounds like. Thanks again.

dknights...Thanks for your reply. Just to make sure I understand it properly, do you mean by "synthesize" that the receiver will receive an L-R input from the TV and then create signal for the center channel from it? Thanks.