can i have a killer 2 channel AND HT setup at once

Another choice is to get a 5/6 channel power amp that is high enough quality and build to both offer dynamic range for movie soundtracks, as well as finesse for music playback.
This is a tough niche for an amp to fill, but there are a few. Most processors out now will have a 2 channel pass through, that will bypass the DSP chip, and let you use the processor as a 2 channel preamp for stereo playback. This is how my system is set up, with a Cinepro 3K6SE GOLD powering 4 Silverline Audio Sonatina II's and a Center Stage. I use an Aragon Stage 1 pre/pro which has an incredible sounding preamp section. I can switch between 2 channel direct analog stereo, and digital 5.1 with a push on the remote.

Placing any speaker, virtuall, "in the corners" is not going to do well sonically for the most part. Also, the soundstage(if you listen to them on the long wall, spread to the sidewalls), assuming the long wall set up for both movies and HT in the same system, is not going to immage well. Speaker placement and seating placement are both critical for great sound as a foundation.
You will also NEED A DD/DTS PRE/PRO! You can't expect great movie sound without enlisting the help of an OUTBOARD dd/dts pre/pro...simple as that. If you're considering using the analog out's from your DVD to your 2 channel stereo preamp for movies, or even to multi amps, you can forget it..just incase you were considering this.
Also, Are you sure the Plasma is going to give you enough cinematic drama for that room? 42" is small. I've found that a larger picture is a critical element in making the HT experience enveloping! You can easily spend not so much on any number of truely fantastic DLP projectors for this task, and can(even with modest 480P immages) easily get a 70" immage or larger that will look fantastic!
One thought might be to use the plasma over the fireplace for TV watching, but have a screen that comes down in front of it, with projector set up in the rear for movies!...MUCH MORE DRAMATIC AND EXCITING for movies!(once you go large screen/high quality pic, you'll never go back!)
Also, remember that the Grand Piano speakers are better, more laid back music speakers, rather than high dynamic, focused and coherent HT speakers! The pressence and involvment for movies will be more polite and laid back for an HT pressentation...so just be forewarned. You will do much better, indeed, if you do sit closer proximity wise to the speakers. So, in your case, if you listen to the speaker across the short run(speakers and chairs along the long wall, not short wall). If you place the speakers on the long wall, you'll be hearing much more dirrect sound rather than reflected. This is definitly likely if you have your speakers set up more out in the room.
But, it's all trade-offs in the end. If you are more into what you get from the SF's for music, then those might just be the ticket for you. If you wish to Maximize HT, you could try some more "movie" oriented monitors.
good luck

Once you listen to a real high end HT you will mostly listen through a 6;1 system.I would strongly recommend a Meridian 861 V3 processor,a little expensive but worth it.
Ramy

I think I should clarify my last post a bit better...for the record, I AM an advocate of the "long wall" set up for placing speakers! Usually, with less effort, you'll find you can get better sound overall with this set up. However, with your mentioning of setting the speakers all the way "in the corner", I was protesting a bit! speakers spread almost 30ft appart from each other in your set up, will indeed have solid immaging challenges.(especially in 2 channel). If you would move your speakers closer inwards toward the screen a bit, you would be much better off. If you have only one seat set in the middle of the room, you might play around with 1/4 possitions (definitely not my favorite chioce however) from the sidewalls, or slightly off of that(perhaps a bit better). If you want to sit in between the main two speakers for 2 channel stereo listening a lot, and the room is asymetrical, you have more options. So you'll have to play around a bit. If you have two seats you would be considering using, you might start with 1/6 possitions for your speakers along the long wall(from the sides). This is all assuming your room is a perfectly symetrical(and closed in) 30x15x9.
If you do opt for the long wall set up(which will require less immediate attention to critical room acoustics treatments and consideration, you will have a much better likelyhood of getting terrific sound.
I would however, if you can, strongly recommend you change the 15x30 dimmension! Bringing, say, the 30ft dimmension down by about 6% in length would yield you much much better sonic results than 30ft even!(assuming an exact 15ft for the short distance). The other attractive option would be to add 6% in dimmension to your 15ft dimmension! This will smooth out the bass nodes much better than a 15x30 dimmension overall.
Also, in reference to your SF Piano speaker sellection for HT applications, you might find the sound totally acceptable if you indeed do the "long wall set up", or at the very lest set up the system so that you're poximaly closer to the speakers...or at least closer in proportion to the speakers than you are to the side wall and ceiling reflections!
Anyway, hope this helps.

Honestly, No.

I am in the middle of trying and it just wont happen. There will always be a comprimise, at least fro me. i like tubes for music. And walls fallng down for movies.

I just came to this board right now to start looking for HT speakers and just move my Merlins to a dedicated listing room