The reason why I am tending to steer away from both the Yamaha RX and Pioneer Elite lines is exactly the this problem, that you either must pay top dollar from an authorized dealer, usually on in-store sales only, or take your chances with unauthorized online sellers who offer no factory warranty. On the other hand, you can often get great deals on Harman Kardon receivers from Vanns.com or onecall.com (much better prices than any of the authorized dealers in my area, anyway), both of which are factory authorized internet dealers. Check out the new HK 635, it looks awesome at a little over $800.
Cheers,
JJ