Okay maybe not the SOLE reason,but it is definitely a very good reason why it was invented. Charlie wanted a way to level the playing field and this helped because it gave him a bargaining chip in negotiations with the ever more greedy locals and network owned locals like CBS.Still, while it may be a reason, it isn't the sole reason nor likely the main reason. I'm sure marketing to customers was paramount, otherwise the hardware itself might have been named different from the "Hopper."