Well I have a Pioneer DVD player and a VSX-D812 receiver. My first pieces of HT so I have no other brands to compare my experience with them too.
I think the receiver was good value for money at the time I bought it. A NAD/Onkyo with same features was much more. I do however get worried when I read peoples post saying Pioneer receivers are not good for music/ they're bright/ not as detailed as others. It does have a learning remote which is a big plus.
The amp does have one critical flaw: lowest crossover setting is 100Hz. I've ended up running my 3 M22's as large and using the Sub+Mains setting for bass.
This alone makes me wish I'd spent the extra 20% and bought the Onkyo 501.
