Rob, yes; the 828 can be viewed as a "downgrade" in comparison to the 818. This is particularly in light of the Audyssey version being lowered two steps. It can also be noticed that the 818 weighs about 40 pounds and 828 33 pounds.
In the past we discussed both Accessories4less and ShopOnkyo as sources for factory refurbs. Neither of them have the 818 refurb available now. I haven't personally dealt with OneCall, but contrary to an earlier comment here, research shows it to be one of the most highly regarded audio equipment dealers, so I didn't hesitate to recommend it at that 818 sale price.
I didn't pick the 818 at random, as it appears from my research to stick out very clearly as the unit to buy in that price range. My personal experience with Onkyo receivers(and that of most users, see e.g., the four 818 reviews in OneCall)has been highly satisfactory. I see no good reason to even mention a second choice.
