A 3808's MSRP is $1,699.

The UMC-1 preprocessor is (will be, if/when) $699. A UPA-7 is $599.

It's $401 cheaper to buy a UMC-1 + UPA-7 pair than it is to buy a 3808.

I have an LPA-1 amp and I intend to buy the UMC-1 if/when it's ever released. Unless I find something better before they get it to market. ;\)

The practical reason for separates over an AVR is that one can upgrade either the amp or processor whenever I want. A good amp can last basically forever, because it does what it does and it's not ever really going to change. But a processor's functions change with the times. New features are added, new technologies are invented. With separates, you can invest in a good amp once, and then just upgrade the processor whenever you need to.

But on a more subjective level, I like the aesthetics of separates.

M80v2 | VP150v2 | QS8v2
SVS Pci+ 20-39
Emotiva UMC-1 & LPA-1
M22ti + T-Amp, in the Office