Does anyone have an opinion about 7 ch. stereo?

Yes, but my mother told me that if you can't say something nice about something don't say anything.

I think it was Sam Tellig who said it best (to paraphrase): with two channel, less is more; with multi-channel, more is less. This might be an over simplification, but unless you've got an excess of money to waste on experimentation and disappointment, quite true. -Lars-

7 channel stereo?

Isn't that an oxymoron?

Axe five channels, then spend the money on better speakers and elctronics for the remaining two channels.
I have not heard any multichannel system that made the listening experience any more believeable than a two channel system and most of the time even less so.