and I would hate it if I lost that possibility then just because I disconnected the mic connector at one time.
The serial connector however, from that one I'm SURE I'll never use it in the car anyway.

But you'd have to reterminate those serial wires inside the Empeg as well, wouldn't you? ....If that were the case then you wouldn't have serial capability *anywhere*, true? Or are you saying you would steal some of the wires that share the serial connector?

I debated this myself. Ultimately I decided that VR and the uncertain prospect thereof wasn't important enough to me, so I will use those two wires for coax digital.