Does anyone else force their Apple TV into 1080p mode because they don’t like soap opera mode? I hope this unit lets me do that. I have no need to upgrade but eventually my current Apple TV will die and I’d hate to lose the ability to downgrade.

You are doing something wrong.

Resolution has nothing to do with dejudder and what have you: these are TV settings.

You should however has match framerate and hdr modes to content in apple tv settings on (unless you have a really old TV).