You have a good point about being distracted by weird sounds from the rear surrounds. I sometimes wonder If they just throw something into the back speakers just to let me know their there, it just doesn't fit in with the program. I use a DD 5.0 System in my rec room, and Stereo in my living room.
When it's done correctly, Like with the Recent Star Trek Movie, the Lord of the Ring's Movies, and my Shania Twain Music Video, I find my DD 5.0 to be an Amazing Experience, so it isn't going anywhere (it's not in the way, so it doesn't matter). Most material I watch however would sound good with my Stereo speakers placed about 1.5' away from my 46" TV Screen to keep the bulk of the sound where a center channel speaker would go. I do sometimes play with the different SS options, It can be interesting, even for music.
Before Surround sound I placed a couple of Minimus 7 Speakers behind me and pointed them at the back wall using an L-Pad to reduce the volume to barely percievable and that worked very well.
I use a pair of Minimus 7 Speakers for my 32" Living room TV with the matching 10 wpc Realistic STA-7 Reciever. It's surprizing how such a Tiny pair of speakers can sound so big. People hear this and are always looking for the Sub. I'm very pleased with it. For Serious Movie Watching I'll go down to the rec room. Depending on the Program I'll use Stereo Sound, DD 5.0, or One of the Matrix SS Options. I found the speakers in both of my Flatscreen TV's leave a lot to be desired. My old Toshiba 30" CRT Set had a Subwoofer and sound really good.