I guess it does, for some, come down to the contract commitment. For me it makes no difference. It's not that I'm a loyal, never say never, DirecTV customer. I've been with them for ten years in two different states. Why? Cable in the first state was just junk, unwatchable because of the state of the system. Cable in the second state was supposedly better but TWC wouldn't come out and do a service survey so I stayed with DirecTV. Today I get a great HD picture on three sets and I have Sunday Ticket, a sole DirecTV product right now. I have no plans to move ever again so the commitment is nothing. I understand other folks move frequently or their financial situation changes or whatever but none of those fit me so paying more for equipment just to own it so I don't have a two year commitment makes no sense. Satellite or cable or FiOS or OTA TV is not a tube sock, one size does not fit all.