I'm considering the Sony BDP350 Blu-Ray player, and I understand it does not do onboard decoding of DTS-HD-MA. I'm waffling between holding off squirreling my cash for the slightly more expensive 550, with does decode DTS-HD-MA, as well as offering analog outputs.

I currently have an older AV receiver (Onkyo TX-DS595) with no HDMI inputs, though I foresee a new one sometime in the near future. And with the lack of analog outputs on the 350 I guess I'll use the optical digital out to carry "normal" DTS and DD5.1 for now (which I still think sounds outstanding).

Is it standard on the new breed of HDMI-ready receivers to offer decoding of DTS-HD-MA and other Blu audio formats?

Your correct the S350 will not decode DTS-HD/MA. I believe it will decode everything but that. The same holds true to Panasonic's BD35K. I prefer the BD35.
Yes the new AVR's will mostly likely decode all the latest HD audio. They as low as the mid $300 for them (IE onkyo 606)

The Sony 350 will not decode either of the DTS HD formats. The Panny 35 will.

Well I was half right

Good to know. I was thinking about hitting K-Mart Friday morning for one.

But if I plan on upgrading my receiver like Onkyo 606 (or any other that does decoding of all HD audio codecs) it shouldn't be an issue. Correct?

FYI:
The K-Mart sale is Thursday. Sears is Friday.

Its also Friday:

I'm trying tomorrow morning. I thought it was just Thursday at K-Mart.
I have a feeling it will be a hot item at that price.

The Super K-Mart by me is open 24 hours, so I wonder when the sale actually starts? 12:00? 6 or 7 am (to match the stores that aren't 24 hours)?

Correct if you get the 606 it is not an issue.

I realized that afterwards, and I have the 606, so I just bought the Sony 350 at Best Buy for $199.99.

Well there is also some speculation on AVS that Sony will add the DTS-MA to the 350 via firmware upgrade but that is just speculation at this point.