*****EDITED***** Don't bother with RTI. I would go with Sonos and sell them speakers/wire/labor etc and let them use whatever DIY product they want for control. Don't get in the middle of it or you will be getting the angry phone calls when "your damn system" doesn't work.

Put the control system and distributed audio in the same rack/cabinet or closet as the surround gear so all of your black boxes are in one spot. This will make life easier if you get the "come rip this out and put in crestron" call down the road.

Some people are very good at negotiating themselves into a nightmare and they always forget that it was their idea. iRule is a capable product and should work fine. Just make sure that they understand that THEY are the iRule or whatever programmer...not you. "why doesn't the macro work" "not sure, have a nice day".