I think you're missing part of the reason the player was invented - the all-in-one-unit. No extra boxes, no long-distance wiring, no extra installation hasslesReality is different. I'm really missing decent FM radio and am starting to doubt if the Empeg-guys will ever be able to approach to quality of their MP3 delivery for FM radio, or even come close to matching out-of-the-box car radios. The antenna amplifier hasn't made a lot of difference, and the announcement that the Mark-2 will have an
external radio-unit is bad news for any Mark-1 owner who wants decent FM-radio, I think. From the announcement that the Mark-2 will use an external unit I read that Empeg have given up developing one themselves and will purchase a module from an external supplier. Unless there will be a (complicated??) inetrface into the Mark-1, we'll have to live with what's there. (Any comments / assurances, Hugo ??)
I think there should be a 'secure' option where a relay-driven bolt pushes through the frame and into the chassis of the empeg unit itself. Nice for the Mark-2; not feasible for the current model. Have tried to build one myself, but there is no space behind the chassis.
For the rest - why have it anywhere else? The unit already packs a heap of power into a standard sized unit - any larger and you'll be just limiting the market.As I said, fitting it in the boot will free-up the DIN-slot in the dash, so I could mount a decent FM-radio player. Navigating the Empeg remotely should be easy, especially if it talks back / confirms options and selections. It will also be much more secure in the boot. And there is much more space there to hook it up to anything else.
When I get one it's going to take pride of place in my car, dammit!I have mine mounted and am proud of it. It works great from MP3s. Will gladly mount it in the boot though. It'll sound equally well from there and I may have decent radio.

Henno
serial 120