Alas, I've not heard the Fluence speakers either.
The M60's are AMAZING. I can't say much about the VP150, because I don't have a lot to compare it to. I do know it was a HUGE step up from my old Phase Tech 1C center that I had.
As far as the QS8's, I'd always been of the opinion that surround speakers were the least important speakers in your system. Then I got the QS8's. Wow... Movies are SO much more fun now!
I agree that you should buy your speakers piecemeal, one at a time if that's what your budget can handle. Don't buy what you can afford now, because in the end you'll not be happy, and you'll just end up upgrading it all again. That doesn't mean you need to buy Axioms. Go out and listen to EVERYTHING. Decide what you like best, and start building your system.
Unless you're independently wealthy that's what you'll have to do. "Build" your system...you can't expect to buy it all at once.
