I was a sub to E* like 3 years ago. When I moved to my new house. I called and they offered to sign up by purchasing my own equipment and paying $20 per new card.
Guess what I went with D* as a new customer....and I have had service with them in the past.
You all can defend E* all you want, it does not matter to me. D* gets my money and E* gets nothing. Since everyone can only be a new customer once....do they not believe they will run out of customers as they raise the rates on there existing customers while offering "new" customers amazing deals?
While there an tons of customers in rural areas unable to get cable/fiber/etc. It is figured every "new" customer has about 2 years. As these 2 years add up, that consumer will likely have more service available to them...IE (Possible new Satellite providers, New Fiber customers?)
*Example
My parents currently have E* and there local Telco have just completed Fiber. (First in community) and the telco is currently there ISP. They have went from a 1Mb internet to 10mb with no change in price. Currently they offer 120 channels with 40 in HD. There current mailer is expecting 200 channels by 2011. Fiber is the death to Satellite. It will continue to grow rapidly.