Right. It depends on the circuit topology chosen by the designer. Some circuits are inherently balanced, but most consumer products are inherently single-ended. Both kinds can work well in a home audio environment. There is no hard-and-fast rule on one being better than another. The only undisputed advantage to balanced is when running very long cables, such as in a studio or a concert hall where noise pick-up becomes a major problem.
I tend to think of four classes of equipment with regard to the balanced-SE question:
1.) Inherently balanced equipment: My Audio Research LS5 MkII line-stage is an example of this. The circuit is naturally balanced throughout by virtue of the differential "push-pull" topology chosen. It receives balanced inputs naturally, and drives them naturally. Aside from the long-cable noise issue, high-end manufacturers such as ARC sometimes use inherently balanced circuits (differential) to almost completely cancel even-order harmonics. My line stage can also receive single-ended signals and drive single-ended loads, with arguably only a very tiny loss of performance and a reduction in gain of 6dB (half).
2.) Inherently single-ended, but with true balanced inputs and outputs: My Apogee crossover is an example of this. The internal workings are single-ended, but provision has been made to receive balanced inputs with a balanced receiver circuit, and to drive balanced loads with a true differential driver circuit. But there has to be an internal conversion from balanced to SE, and then from SE back to balanced again. Additional circuits are required on both ends to accomplish those conversions. These kinds of devices often have both SE and balanced connectors. I use the SE (RCA) inputs and outputs, skipping the extra balancing circuitry altogether. Sometimes transformers are used to convert from SE-to-balanced or vice-versa, although active circuits can accomplish these conversions too.
3.) Single-ended throughout with "pseudo-balanced" connectors: Here the XLR connectors are driven by a SE signal, and the connector merely provides a convenient way to connect to a balanced preamp or power amp using an XLR-to-XLR cable. I think the 777 falls into this category for its analog outputs. There may be perceived marketing advantages for seeming to be "professional" or "balanced" (says my cynical side).
4.) Single-ended throughout with SE inputs and outputs: The vast majority of consumer equipment falls into this category. No apologies need to be made for this design choice. As you say, many fine pieces of equipment, most in fact, are made this way.