Brand new to HT - looking for some advice (please)

Greetings!

So I think I'm going to finally take the HT plunge, and after spending months reading through threads and getting myself thoroughly overwhelmed with options, I figured I would throw myself at the mercy of the masses and ask for a bit of advice/feedback.

Looking to start with a Receiver. Budget would be ~$400.

No real need for 3D for the foreseeable future.
Would like iPod connectivity.
Pandora/Internet radio intrigues me, but it's not a must.
Would be connecting Xbox360, DVD player, HD Cable Box, Wii, and Panasonic Plasma TV.
Would like 7.1 mainly because of the 5.1 dual zone functionality - I don't have plans to wire 7.1 speakers.

Based on this, I've narrowed my choices down to a few (and would welcome any others)

Pioneer 1020
Onkyo 608
Onkyo 260

I'm leaning towards the 1020 as being the best bang for the buck, especially because if the included iPod adaptability (as opposed to other receivers which require a purchased dock/addon).

Once I get this figured out .. look for a followup post in the Speakers section of the forum

thanks in advance!
~smurf

Thanks for the feedback - I hadn't really considered Yamahas because I thought that iPod functionality would cost me $80-$100 for the dock. Any idea if that's true or not? That's a really good price @350 - but I'm not sure that it beats out the 1020 @ $360 (the 'zon).

The 1120 is intriguing, but it is a bit outside of what I was hoping to spend.

Anymore feedback?

One of my biggest questions about the differences between the brands is the iPod connectivity and functionality. It seems that at similar price points (350-410), the Pio is a big winner because it has iPod functionality out of the box, where the Onkyo's and the Yamaha would require a somewhat pricey addon dock, correct? Or am I reading the specs wrong?

gobble, gobble?

Any last minute comments/feedback/ideas before I attempt Black Friday tomorrow?

Also, seems like there are some good deals for the Pioneer 820 - in terms of what i'm looking to get, is the $150 more for the 1020 worth it in terms of feature set?