I don't have any direct experience with speaker bars, but I can try to answer your questions anyway. Firstly, can you use a speaker bar but use your rear speakers? I think the answer is yes, but it depends on the speaker bar you choose. If the bar has a separate set of binding posts for each channel, then I guess you could do it, and part of the speaker bar would never get used. I looked at a few bars after reading your post and a few of them used optical audio connectors instead - something like that you wouldn't be able to separate the channels out. So make sure you know what the inputs on the back look like. Also, I found one or two units that only have the front and center channels on them (no rears). Something like this might be ideal for you since you don't have to worry about paying for extra speakers in the bar that you are not using. You could still send your rears back if you want, get a full speaker bar. I don't see how they could sound as good as a nice set of independent speakers, but most folks are not picky enough to care. Also - if you want any kind of punch in your bass, you'll still want a separate subwoofer, even with the speaker bar. Again, you might not be picky enough to care.

Christine- you saved a life! Not many can say that! I like to think I'm the type that won't panic but since I've never been in a true life threatening situation, I can't know for sure. I was an athletic trainer in high school, in football country, so I've had my fair share of calming injured persons down. This is completely anecdotal but football players are WAY more "sissy" than softball/volleyball girls. I had to restrain several girls and tell them "NO, I need to look at that ankle!" while I had to tell at least one football player to get up and get off the field! The closest "panic" experience I've had was when my 2 year old severely burned herself. I only had panicky feelings AFTER she was at the hospital. During the moment, I was in the moment, using the skills and knowledge I had to help her. Did I ever mention my original "when I'm grown up I want to be..." was a doctor? Probably helps that my dad was a first responder and I remember sitting around the dinner table and him telling about reaching into a guys broken leg and pinching the femoral artery shut. When we were at a family gathering later and he was sharing the story, others were disgusted and couldn't finish their meals!! That's when I learned that other people have a different tolerance/panic level than we (my family) do. Marrying ketshup....EWWWW!!!!!!! Look, I'll save the old, almost empty bottle (in the fridge) to use next time but mixing them? Bleh!! Shaken, not stirred? All juices, salsa, ranch, BBQ sauce, basically all condiments, chocolate milk, tea. I'm a southern gal but growing up my mom only drank unsweetened tea. It wasn't until I was a teenager that I learned that southern iced tea is generally sweet tea. Still can't stand it to this day. IF I'm going to have tea it will be iced and NOT sweet! Also, no one else has said it but can I just say that canned veggies need to die a horribly slow painful death? The only veggies I got growing up (remember mom HATED cooking) were canned. Canned corn (Meh, OK in a pinch) canned peas (SOOO mushy!!), canned carrots (OK, if I can't have fresh I actually do prefer canned to frozen), canned beets (BLEH!!! Still my most hated veggie to this day) canned green beans (THIS is LITERALLY the worst!!! Salty, limpy, bad flavor yuckiness put in a can!!!) The only one I actually liked and still buy/stock my pantry with is hominey. My canned goods storage is very different from my moms. Her pantry was/is stocked with canned veggies, soups, beans, etc. The cans in my pantry are generally tomato sauce/paste (hoping to start growing my own next year!!), and prepped beans. Pinto, black, refried, black eyed peas, etc. I really want to start my garden next year and grow tomatoes, bell peppers, onions, garlic and herbs to start with. Hopefully, years from now, my daughters will talk about mom's atrocious pantry with ready made foods because they have grown accustomed to having fresh food. :)

There are suppliers on Amazon that sell CL2/CL3 cable, usually in 100 foot lengths (or longer). For most items you can order it and have it in two days. For example, this 250 foot cable is priced at $110 https://www.amazon.com/Speaker-GearIT-Meters-Outdoor-Installation/dp/B01N3JS3SD/ref=sr_1_8?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1490108385&sr=1-8&keywords=cl3+burial+speaker+wire . Bruce

"Tom Silva replies: You can do it either way. My painting contractor, Jim Clark, wants to be last so doesn't have to repaint baseboards that have been splotched with stain or ployurethane, or nicked by a sander. Besides, even the most careful flooring contractors inevitably leave a film of dust everywhere, he says. My flooring contractor, Pat Hunt, sees things a little differently. He prefers to be last because floor finishes take a while to fully cure, so he doesn't want anyone walking on them even when they're covered with protective tarps. He also says it's pretty common for other contractors to damage or spill stuff on a finished floor. The way he figures it, it's much easier to touch up paint than a floor finish. As the general contractor, I sometimes have the flooring finisher go first, and sometimes I let him go last. It all depends on what's best for the project schedule. I have that kind of flexibility because I know Clark and Hunt will put a lot of effort into protecting the other guy's work." https://www.thisoldhouse.com/ask-toh/what-comes-first-wall-painting-or-floor-refinishing