Upgrade receiver?

[efesbe]

So the only reason for a receiver with the HD codecs (MA and TrueHD) is if I decide to buy a standalone BD player with bitstream capability? I did read somewhere here that there was a difference when bitstreamed to a receiver and have the receiver decode. Is the difference really that significant? Not only will I have to buy a receiver, but also a BD player capable of bitstreaming. I was hoping on not spending anything if people here can talk me out of it and that I will not hear much of a difference.