According to Craig Moffet that if DISH drops ESPN subs could save almost $10 a month.
I think if they dropped ESPN DISH would have to lower peoples bills to indeed show them why they did what they did.
And that would be fine with me if they offered a premium package that still carried the channels for about $10. If they kept it available at a reasonable cost in a sports package so people could still get it they probably wouldn't lose as many subscribers. If they just flat out didn't offer it they would see many drops.