Whether DirecTV's HD package is any good is a personal decision. To me, having ESPN HD makes it worth it. Other people don't care for it. Bravo HD was recently changed to Universal HD and the content is much improved. I've found HD NET and HD Net Movies to have some very good content, but you'll have to decide if you like what they show. Go to hd.net and universalhd.com and check out their program listings.
Also DirecTV has 6 months free for the HD package so it doesn't cost anything to get it, except for the HD receiver.
From a PQ standpoint, I find it to be fine. However other users have said that D*'s compresion degrades the PQ too much. I personnaly do not agree with this.