Is it really necessary to use the Video In jacks on my surround receiver?

This question was posted on an Answers site:
Is it really necessary to use the Video inputs on the back of my Surround Receiver?

My Response:
It entirely depends on the components which you are connecting and the type of operation that you want. For instance, if you have a DVD player, Satellite, VCR, and a Video Game system your TV more than likely couldn't handle all that, so this is where the receiver comes in. If you run everything through the receivers A/V inputs then you could in a sense have one cable going to your television, making operation easy. Depending on the brand of receiver, it may convert lower video inputs out to higher outputs (example - Composite (yellow) in from VCR, but send out S-Video or Component to your TV). I travel for a living and I have most of the equipment I listed above, and I have everything running through the receiver, and now when my wife and son want to watch a movie or play games all they do is select the input on the receiver for the device they are going to use, and there it is right on the TV.