I sense the future for Digital, as the new holy grail to be discovered, is the consistent accuracy of the Master Clock being used.
This is an area where a commercial entity has already made an impact with add on devices to be used in the Signal Path of a Digital Source. As a surmise, the ass on device in the digital signal path, is possibly becoming a similar supporting device as a Phonostage is to a Cartridge.
A Master Clock is pretty much a design to produce a Crystal Oscillation for a Chip at 10MHz, where there is a need for an optimised environment to operate the Chip to be able to consistently function at the 10MHz Frequency.
This lends itself to both commercial designs such as OXCO (Most Common used in the Models being discussed) or DOXCO ( Not too sure if this is used in a Branded Audio Device at present) Not many Brands are making a point of showing which method is used to control the Environment the Chip is working in.
The next area for creating the ideal environment is DIY, there are some interesting methods being adopted, to produce an improved OXCO or even a DOXCO equivalent. As well as treat unwanted energy transferral from the Ambient Environment within the listening room, that can be detrimental to the Crystal Oscillation.
I can easily see myself becoming a proponent of methods being used and happily adopt the ideas being used by the DIY designs.