FlyingJ - you know its truly funny - the 2 sides of this debate have like no common ground.
From the D* sub side - seems like most of us ALREADY are happy with the offering (including the HD offering) that we get. Yeah, maybe its because we have some channels you can't get on DISH (like YES, or NFL, or whatever). For others, the sheer number of channels EITHER one has doesn't matter that much. For others it could be as simple as getting DNS, or HD lils, or anything else.
It is the people on the other team (the ones that DON'T EVEN get the service) that seem to have the most complaints about DirecTV. I find that strange really.
I don't mind one iota that DISH has MORE HD channels. Why, because, I have no real interest in the content most of those channels provide. I never watch HGTV in SD, so why would having it in HD matter to me? I don't care for KUNG FU, so why would I pay for it? Yeah, the DISH crowd will think that I am knocking them, but I am NOT. It is MY programming preference and NOTHING else that has me at D*.
If I wanted those other channels I would either switch or at least get BOTH as some already have. I read with interest (yes I have interest) in what DISH is doing, what FiOS is doing, and what the cablecos are doing. But I don't rag about the things I feel that the others do that is shady or deceitful in my eyes. I don't pay for their services, so I could give a rats A$$ about it.
I support my provider, if I didn't I would change to one that I would then support. I didn't stay with D* because of their much ballyhooed HD plan from 2004. I stayed with them because they have the channels I want (and DISH simply doesn't offer). I have followed the progress of that plan however, and I think they are doing a great job of driving the HD initiative for ALL the others. Another reason why I don't understand the whining by the other sides.