Brajesh,
I'm with you 100% on the RP82's unknown aspect ratio adjustment capability - this could be the first player out there (with the possible exception of the Philips Q50) to combine no chroma upsampling design error and Faroudja deinterlacing and zooms.
The RP82 description at this site
http://www.nbtelectronics.com/images/RP82.jpg
lists a "Variable Zoom" separate, and distinct, from Progressive Scan aspect ratio adjustments.
I'm curious as to whether or not Variable Zoom means that while in progressive mode, you can actually tweak height and width dimensions through a bunch of different values as you please? Most likely far from what the Malata N996 offers using the Mediamatics chip, but at least a little ways down that path?
Of course whatever progressive zoom the RP82 offers, you doggone well better be able to turn any "zoom logo" off from showing on the screen while you are in a zoom mode. A non-removal zoom logo makes a zoom function worthless.