No solution to this will affect the builder unless the homeowner has some kind of written statement from the builder to the effect that the home is surround-ready; then a lawsuit might make him regret this. But us coming in later? They're gone. They can't be bothered, in any meaning of the word.

I think the Sonos idea is right. I helped finish off a system a buddy designed in a 30s house in LA. Playbar under the TV, sub off to the left on the other side of a doorway, installation of the surrounds was plugging them into power in niches in the rear of the room. These particular steps plus setting up the Sonos took an hour, mostly for linking the Sonos parts to the network.