How simple can an audio computer be?

So rather frustratingly, about three days after I purchased the Pi2AES Lite, the manufacturer updates the product documentation saying they are dropping the external 5V jack option, part of the reason I bought the product. It was omitted due to a low voltage condition at the Pi. But rather than taking a few extra days to try to resolve the problem, they just abandon any further effort in order to rush to release the product. I didn't want to cancel my order but if I did, I only had a tiny window of opportunity to do so as it was rapidly dispatched whilst parts of the site still advertise the external 5V facility. They kept the 5V jumper on the board though so I can still DIY separate power connection for HAT and Pi but as there is no reverse polarity or overvolt protection with this, it would void my warranty... I'm confident the product will still be excellent but this has irked me a little as it almost feels like it gave up at the final hurdle. A metal case would have been better than an acrylic one too, for EM shielding. Oh well, shall DIY fix my little niggles and see if there are further audible improvements to be realized.

Pink Faun also offer an i^2s PCIe bridge with HDMI-socket output. Are you curious Graham as to what sound quality could be obtained if you prototyped a Bitzie-size streamer that accepts i^2s at the back with dual analogue outputs at the front? You said that i^2s is not a durable transport medium over longer distances and is intended as inter (between) integrated circuit sound data transmission on a PCB. The cable between PCIe card and proposed streamer would have to be very short then; less than 1.5m, so can't have a Lautus ferrite? Perhaps even 0.6m is in theory too long? What if the proposed streamer mounts directly onto the card with PCB stand-offs and the jumper wires are less than 10cm? Morning daydream...