Absurd definitely, because someone who has enough brains to put in a P99 would never pair it with the likes or rockmars, if he would we know what sort of an enthusiast he is. Certain drivers have certain capability and a cut-off point, no matter how well the equipment to support them is, they would not surpass that point. Pioneer reference series, Denon, McIntosh players; they all would make no difference in enhancing the characteristics of cheap drivers, would only add their own flavour.
It would have made an even greater difference if you would've kept the 8450 and changed to a better amplifier, say Focal LE series, or DM or DD if not other pure class A amplifiers. Ask Taimour Bhai(roms) he kept his HU and switched his amplifier, the difference was night and day.
In my case even when i shifted from Soundstream to McIntosh to Adcom (kepping the HU and processor same), it made the best difference at each upgrade, even when i switched to using a gold plated distribution block it made an audible difference, so i certainly refute that the HU is the most important of all components in a system alone and makes the most of difference.
It's not always about the components you're putting in, that's the mentality of people here to get the best of components and then messing up the install, don't know how to tune them, trying brands which do not complement with eachother, not knowing how to throw in that most important of ingredient, synergy between everything. People at DIY say a lot of other things as well.
Quality starts from the very top, but whats the use of having it if there is nothing in the lower tiers to support it?. It's just like having a pretty blonde by your side who has peanuts for a brain, whats the use of such a thing.