I understand that, but how many have 8 ANPR cameras in their system? Or have the need for that many? Most residential applications will not have the proper locations or angles to support true ANPR cameras.
Unless you have a lot of traffic that needs monitoring and the proper mounting circumstances, you probably won't have a need for true ANPR cameras, especially at $540 to $830 per camera.
Some may have a lot of money to throw at this, but there are many more that don't - like me. And dare I say that some have come here after spending a good chunk of money on a basic / mediocre CCTV system with crap performance looking for help, so they are already behind, cash end and knowledge.
JMHO
You forgot that ANPR is only one of the AI functions, which 608-XI can add to cams...
Full Video Meta Data (with humans, faces, vehicles & plates) are very good function... Camera can do IVS, NVR can add Video Meta Data..
Also Face Detect / Recognition is another interesting combination done on NVR next to IVS done on cam...
608-XI allows to mix different AI functions done on NVR side..
it have much more higher AI limits and it is more AI flexible..
this NVR can mix AI done on NVR and AcuPick... 5xxx-EI can't do it...
Also hardware wise 608-XI is in much different construction than cheap popular 5xxx-EI..
1.5U rackable chassis, 8 hot swappable HDD buys (with RAID support), 4 HDMI outputs (plus 2 VGA), 2 (4 in higher models) gigabit ethernet connections...
All specs / limits are upped in comparison to 5xxx-EI.. much more powerful SOC & CPU...
it's highest NVR line Dahua do...
608-XI have also much higher lifetime..
5xxx-EI is on market second year and in next month/two will be replaced by next line (-HI or EI2 - I saw 2 different marketing names in Dahua materials)..
So no more firmware with extra new features for old -EI..
-XI have 5 years lifetime with firmware upgrades / updates.. and it were released last year...
Yes, it is not for normal house market...
but for some bigger residences or some fanatics like people on this forum - very nice NVR...
Especially on crazy prices from Andy.. I know what is MSRP in official Dahua channels in Europe for this (like 4-5K USD)...