I go the exact opposite...
I've always run mismatched fronts. I've never had a center that has matched my mains. I've always preferred to have the clearest, most articulate center I can find no matter what brand or what size. When I was running Ohm Walsh F's and Platinum Audio Studio 3's as mains in my HT system, I used a Klpisch C-7 as my center. It's two honking 8's and big tweet meant that I never lacked for clean, clear and crisp center channel sound for movies. When I switched out my CRT for an LCD, space requrements meant the C-7 had to go. I found a lower profile Boston Acoustics Center that fills the bill.
Most here will tell you that matching front's are imperative, I don't think so, I've very rarely had sound panning across the front slow enough for the timbre differences to be that obvious, but I'm sure some will disagree with me.
Worf