Not blue sky at all.
I have a basic setup at the moment.

PC -> slink-e -> Sony 400 disc changer
(+ DVD, TV, VCR, Satellite etc.)

The slink-e controls the changer and the receiver to change inputs for when it is playing MP3s.

The slink-e also receives IR and passes it to the PC.

It would be no big step for all components to be controlled by the PC.

The PC could then maintain the state of the system and get over the problem of a pronto having no flags/state memory.

Just my thoughts.

Cheers,
Bruce.