One Percent Inspiration, Zero Percent Perspiration

My friend just got a new flatscreen TV. (Me, no.) It looks great in his apartment.

But guess what? It only kinda saves space, because the cabinet he needs to hold his cable box and DVD player is just as deep as his old TV.

Why don't they make components skinny, so they don't stick out from the wall any further than the flatscreens that everyone (but me) is getting these days?