Any media centre geeks out there?

A google search for this stuff is bringing in way too much chaff.

Basically I have a 40" Samsung 1080p LCD TV (link to specs)

a satellite TV box (Austar)
A standard (getting old) stereo amplifier and decent speakers
An existing home wireless network that routes through and ADSL modem at a max 11mbps

I'd like to set up a media centre that would allow me to :
play my digital music (mp3 etc) (no DRM hassles)
play my digital video (mp4, wmv, mov etc) (no DRM hassles)
play/record blu-ray and other DVD formats
view/record cable/satellite TV
view/record free to air digital TV
play CDs
surf the web
use the amplifier or the TV speakers
In some sort of easily managed way with a remote control

I'm guessing Windows Media Centre on Windows 7 is the way to go but I'm looking for advice on hardware requirements and configs

I found this site and joined http://www.xpmediacentre.com.au/ but would love to find other web resources people found particularly useful when they went through this process.