Basically, don't depend on a receiver for great upconversion, unless you're looking at a much more expensive one ($2000+).
Like others here, I'm also now a big fan of Onkyo. I bought my 605 refurbished at Ecost.com for $280 shipped, which was a steal. It arrived fast and it sounds like a dream. The only downside is that it only has 2 HDMI inputs, but that's plenty for me, because the only thing I need hooked up to that is the PS3 for lossless audio. I have my roommate's Xbox 360 plugged in as well through HDMI, mainly so he didn't have to buy a special optical cable to plug it in.
Oh, and the 605 has 4 digital audio inputs (2 optical, 2 coax).
So yes, the 605 is certainly the best bang for the buck.
EDIT: If you want 3 HDMI ports and THX certification, I'd take a look at the Onkyo 705:
http://www.amazon.com/Onkyo-TX-SR705...9752186&sr=8-1