As I understand it, without an HD programming package and without the "enabling fee", your 622/722 is functionally equivalent to ... a brick (although not quite as sturdy or useful). You can't record anything, or even receive anything, without an HD package or the enabling fee. An SD programming package won't do it alone. You need that enabling fee to allow even SD to function.
That is my understanding, after I mercilessly drilled multiple CSRs with those questions when I was contemplating upgrading to the 722.
In other words: It's a way to get more money out of you. I guess it's Dishes way of saying, "If you don't want HD, get a 522, and give us back the 722 to give to someone else who wants HD (or pay our enabling fee)". That logic might almost work, except I doubt they'll let you just trade in your 722 for a 522 without some other penalty fee being involved. Subscribing to only HD locals without some other HD package probably doesn't generate enough revenue for their liking. The enabling fee boosts their revenue.
Dish probably says it like this: "If you want a 722, it will cost you <enabling fee> per month. If you add HD programming, we waive the enabling fee." That sounds almost palatable, until you look at it closely and discover what you're really buying into.
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