I would encourage you to consider speakers outside of a "package" deal. A 36-pack of Scotts buttribbon is cheaper than single rolls, but not necessarily better than Charmin.
I suggest you look here, send an email and talk to Dennis Murphy, (the designer and owner):
http://philharmonicaudio.com/
Also you should look here:
http://www.ascendacoustics.com/, and here:
http://salksound.com/
I agree with some of this -- mainly the Philharmonic and Ascend tips. Salk might be a bit out of his price range for 5.1 though. I also partially agree about not being inflexible about the package deal, insomuch that often times the sub that accompanies an LCRS package can barely be called a sub.
Sierra + Rythmik owners always seem to be highly pleased with their decision. You might also consider
Hsu's package deals. Both Ascend and Hsu offer in-home auditions, sort of.
Ascend makes you pay to ship them back. So does
Dr. Hsu, who also subtracts his shipping costs from the refund (according to his FAQ). Nevertheless, their products are extremely well-reputed.
I've heard nice things about SVS speakers as well, but the price / performance ratio for their subs isn't quite as impressive as it once was.
ELAC and EmpTek, though I'm sure they're lovely, might be aiming a bit short. I have no opinion on the Chane or RSL choices.
If I had $3000 to spend on a 5.1, I'd ask Dennis Murphy if he could do an LCR based on the
BMR Philharmonitors, maybe a pair of
Affordable Accuracy monitors for surrounds, spend the rest on stands / articulating wall brackets / Monoprice speaker wire / whatever, then save a little longer for a worthy subwoofer (depending on the cubic footage you have to fill). And I'd be surprised if you traded any of it away within the next 20 years. For revealing clarity, it'll trump everything on O.P.'s list. Or at least it will either if O.P. is OK with a vertical center or if Dennis will agree to designing a horizontal BMR. Doesn't cost anything to ask, right?
If OP and Dennis can't reach an agreement about the center speaker, then maybe a pair of
Salk Songbirds with a
SongCenter for LCR, a couple of Affordable Accuracy monitors for surrounds, and still save up a bit more for a worthy sub later.