Is Full-size speakers for L-R Rears advisable?

i have 3 sets of full size speakers for my HT and love it.

You can go nuts with this, but if your priority is 2-channel and you just want a very good HT setup integrated into it without blowing big $$$ this is what I’d recommend. You can just use monitors for the rear speakers as the surround signal carries mostly ambient info so extended bass really isn’t necessary, and I’m also of the opinion that you needn’t spend $$$ on them as again they just mainly reproduce ambient sounds. Something like a $479 pair of Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 monitors are plenty sufficient and you’d be better off putting remaining funds toward other things. Speaking of, you absolutely need a sub for truly involving HT, and I’d recommend something like a Rhythmik F12 that is an excellent performer and will get you down to like 14Hz, and as they sell direct it’s a great value as well.  If you want to spend less something like an SVS SB2000 or SB3000 would also be fine for HT.  Unless you really wanna shoot the lights out on HT I’d just get a good AVR and use that for HT processing and for powering the center/surround speakers. I really like the Yamaha Aventage AVRs for sound quality and reliability, but if you want to up it a level and spend more you could go with Anthem. Integrating this seamlessly into your 2-channel system (switching between 2-channel and HT by pushing one button with the AVR completely out of the signal path for 2-channel) is very easy, but if you’re unfamiliar with how to do it just ask and I’ll go into detail. Incidentally, what stereo preamp are you using now? If it has a HT bypass it makes it easier but still very simple using any line level input if it doesn’t. Don’t sweat power/impedance differences as you’ll correct for that by setting individual speaker volume levels with the AVR. Hope this helps.

A lot of folks don't realize how much bass info is available from the rear channels, at least on a well-engineered surround soundtrack.  I've got a horn-loaded JBL stage monitor with two 15" woofers (combined L+R rear channels via mixer), and get as much bass from good recordings as from L-R front channels.

The original surround sound standard does not include a need for FS speakers for anything other than LR.  All other speakers were 200hz and up. This has been carried through for decades now in the cinemas. Bass has always been handled by sub-woofers. 

The only thing I can add here to the otherwise excellent responses is that rears should be used mainly for ambience and are not meant to carry the load.  Monitor size speakers should be adequate for this.  TBH I have never heard a system that uses floorstanders as rears, so I can’t really justify my claims with experience