I agree, which is why I was frustrated when the built in Pandora app wasn't working this past weekend. I did also use Airplay while the Pandora app was down. But it too is glitchy. When I said this AVR isn't my favorite, this is one of the issues I was speaking of. Just to give an idea of some of the issues I've had with this receiver, see below...
1) I have an HDMI port that turns to snow on the screen in the middle of a movie/ gaming. Happens a couple times a year. Not a huge deal, I can simply change the source real quick and come right back and its fine
2) This thing has a hard time staying connected. When using BT, Airplay, etc it'll stall, sound will cut out etc. and I'm not out of range. This can/ will happens while I'm in the same room. and...its not my internet connection. I have plenty of speed to my house. we often times have 3 PS4's running at the same time. This stupid AVR messes up when I'm the only one home, and its the only thing even on
3) Years ago I'd like to connect my phone to the front USB port. Sometimes it recognizes something is plugged into it, but often times it doesn't. I have to pull the power cord, reconnect it, kick avr back on, and it'll recognize something is connected...until the next time.
4) and this is just annoying. Black paint started chipping of about a year after I bought it. I became curious about this and actually found others online who had the same complaint. Not a giant issue, just cosmetic, but definitely aggravating.
Long story short, this AVR has always been finicky. Having to use Airplay, BT to connect Pandora app to an already horrible Denon remote app wasn't great. It worked, but wasn't great. Using Pandora with the AVR is definitely the better way to go, at least for the AVR I have. All of these issues were logged with Denon, but during that time, it seemed their support had really slacked. it just seemed like every call or comms with them would get drug out to the point you give up. They are now part of Sound United which also carries the Marantz, Onkyo and Pioneer line. Not sure if thats a good or bad thing, but my next AVR won't be any of those. I had a considered a Pioneer at one time because I used to love their products. But now that they're in the same lineup as Denon, I think I'll pass