3.)  Hardware reliability.  I don't know how anyone could with a straight face completely trust Microsoft in manufacturing electronics at this point.  Last generation, they were like first generation car company (KIAs).  They were that bad.  Now you want to use their hardware for every function in your living room and expect it to handle the load?  I think many are skeptical.

4.)  For all of the 'Multimedia' features that the Xbox One has,  how many of those do you truly believe will be 'exclusive' experiences that can't be done elsewhere?  Truly, not many.   PS4 will have plenty of multimedia features, after all they manufacture all sorts of entertainment devices.

Since everyone has commented so far, I'll provide an answer.

The Kinect itself is capable of doing the IR blasting.   Remember (or if you didn't know) Kinect comes with three IR lights on the front.  These are capable of lighting up a room for night vision on the Kinect.  Using those lights, Kinect is capable of sending out a signal to control your AV device.  It would be interesting if it worked with your projector, depending on where it is.  If it's in front of the sitting area, it might be challenging depending on how close it is to the screen.  If it's above or behind it, it'll probably work no problem.

The plug-in IR Blaster is only necessary if HDMI CEC or Kinect don't work.

EDIT:  Corrected a reference to a TV and replaced it with screen.

Interesting, although the kinect is itself kind of a problem with the screen, nowhere to put it. Aside from that I would think that the IR blaster has to be where I normally sit. Amp and cable box (both non CEC) are in seperate cabinets, the projector is controlled by reflecting its remote off the screen.

I've used a wireless IR blaster (repeater) before to control the cable box from the bedroom when us old people still used splitters and coax cables. Those things were pretty finnicky and had to be in exactly the right spot. Universal remotes always have problems with one or more specific functions, it will be interesting to see if the xbox one can learn all codes/patterns. I'll play around with it in due time, but won't get my hopes up. So far I've always returned to using the original remotes or simply pressing the buttons on the device.

Fun gimmick, same as using the Wii gamepad for the cable box I imagine (which can't browse and start recorded progams doh) Actually there is one that actually helps, my cable box remote controls the sound volume of the amp, progress!

Most haters believe one of several things, not dismissing 'features'.

1.)  It's a video game system first and foremost.  It looks to be inferior in a multitude of ways in that regard currently.

It has always been clear that MS original intent was to have a foot print in your living room, the easiest way to get there was a console back then.... but 5+ years ago, I and plenty of people that understand what MS intentions were and are said it... they wanted and still want to become an entertainement hub in the familly entertainement centre... this has never changed and the "gamers" that didn't get that more than half a decade ago I feel sorry for them....

2.)  Games, for the said video game system.  Sure, a lot has been made of the Xbox One's launch lineup, yet the real concern with Microsoft is their long-term game lineup.  They've proven time and time again that they don't fully support their systems.  (When is the last non-sequel, AAA, fantastic game the Xbox 360 saw?   How early did the original Xbox get pulled off the shelves?)

Maybe but looking at the library, I doubt any real gamer has played already everything their is to play.... I have played over 200 games this gen and still have about 25 games to complete or even start playing among which some of the main AAA titles of this gen.... to me that is just a random (yet valid argument) with very little weight, do we really care when a game came out??? if you still have games to play why should it matter if it came out in the last 6 months or in the last 3 years ???? but I'll give you that one

3.)  Hardware reliability.  I don't know how anyone could with a straight face completely trust Microsoft in manufacturing electronics at this point.  Last generation, they were like first generation car company (KIAs).  They were that bad.  Now you want to use their hardware for every function in your living room and expect it to handle the load?  I think many are skeptical.

Oh I'm looking at you with a straight face and telling you I'm confident.... the RRoD was a big mistake... but not really a major flaw at the end.  What I mean is, it wasn't like the overal box was flawed, just a few minor modification were needed without changing the main design and overall enginering (chips) of the console.... and it's not like sony never had issues either (not only with consoles and in their case, hardware is their core business) heck even apple iPod first itteration had a scary failure rate (that didn't ever get fixed) and it didn't prevent them to do good hardware thereafter...
those trust issues are laughable IMO.... this is not human relations, they know they fucked up, since then they have made even more complex hardware than the XB (surface, and other tech prototypes) have all the testing equipment inhouse and if surface finished quality and resilience to massive amount of constraint is of any indication the XB1 will be a tank in the face of anything that can be thrown at it 

4.)  For all of the 'Multimedia' features that the Xbox One has,  how many of those do you truly believe will be 'exclusive' experiences that can't be done elsewhere?  Truly, not many.   PS4 will have plenty of multimedia features, after all they manufacture all sorts of entertainment devices.

yeah except if MS decide to put money down.... at that game Sony can't follow.... and MS has a growing argument with their ecosystem for distribution... that actually to me will be the most interesting fight... with the rumor of MS trying to have exclusive shows for XB1... we could see MS get into an entirely new business once again we'll see

5.)  Many people aren't really that interested in 'voice chatting' their TV.  I can't imagine a significant percentage of people age 30+ trying to relax after work that want to sit there and yell/make gestures at their TV all night.  Setting aside the fact that plenty of people have some concern over their privacy given how Microsoft so willingly provided information and access to the government in the past.

I would bet more people over 30 are interest in kinect than under thirty..... for many reasons.... first because they can afford it with all the bells and jiggle it needs to be the best experience (cable, XBL gold, buy games without caring about quality that much) they more than likely have kids and a wife.... and that is great for those individuals.... I know every single friends I have over 30 have kinect and use it.... and they use it to play with the kids, and for sports game because at the end they prefer a cheap solution like that better than the DVD like P90X in terms of feedback... and are tired of the gym constraints price and all the jocks it has... or just don't have the time to go to the gym and rather stay at home and do that quickly every morning or evening for 15 min 30 min rather than go to the gym and feel like staying an hour because they drove their... and it's great for the zumba shit for the wifey and when you have a small gathering of friends for a cookout that got rained out and get stuck inside....

6.) Price. Self explanatory.

I don't feel like 500 is expensive.... my phone is more expensive than that.... PS4 would have been 500 nobody would have said 500 is too much... and honnestly a 100 bucks difference is negligeable for a device I'll keep 10 years.... it's a cheaper investment than most of my tech device (smartphone, TV, Sound system, PC, tablet) they are all either more expensive, last less time or both combined...