It depends on what your situation is with DirecTV.
We've been with them for well over a decade and it had been about 4 years since we had upgraded to a previous-generation HD DVR. Therefore, we were able to get the Genie HR44 for free (with contract, of course). When I tried a year earlier, they wanted to charge me about $500 for the same setup; we didn't need what Genie offered that badly, so we waited, and it paid off.
A word of caution regarding DirecTV gear. Since all clients are charged as leases by DirecTV, think through how you want your setup to look for the foreseeable future, as any equipment changes will require a new, two-year contract to be signed. This includes Genie minis, wireless or wired.