They could make you purchase the DVR up front for $800-$900 and wave the fee. Pay the $72 a year and upgrade your DVR every few years, otherwise you are stuck with an obsolete box and having to pay another $800-$900 to get the new one you want.
I called E* yesterday to try and upgrade my 211 to a 211K. They didn't want to do that but instead offered a 612 DVR. I told the tech CSR that I already had an external HD on the 211 that was working just fine for recording and didn't want to pay a 2nd DVR fee(already have a 622 as well). He told me that I would not have another DVR fee because I was already paying it once. He said that the DVR fee that I was paying covered my whole account. I asked him if he was sure about that and he said yes. I thought his answer was a little fishy but then I read the quoted post above. I do not have the AEP or the DVR advantage plan.