OK, the thing about all this is, a few months ago, say September, October, and November, I was on this and other boards reading post from people saying stuff like "I'm going to go buy me a 942" "Dish won't be going to MPEG4 anytime soon, so I'm going to go get a 942", "I bought my 942 today, I ordered my 942 yesterday, how do I get a $250 upgrade for a 942, etc..." Every post that I read like this there was at least 1 person that pointed out, "don't get one, they'll be obsolete soon" I even posted this a few times myself, however, the warning fell on deaf ears, no one wanted to hear it, they didn't care, because they had to have the latest and greatest NOW, and no matter what anyone else said, they were going to get the latest and greatest NOW.
I understand that most didn't know that the 942 would become obsolete 2-1-2006, however, most don't know about the 622 or 211 yet, most don't know about a few more channels that requires a new receiver, and even if they did, most don't have to have the newest and latest! You guys are talking about this like Dish is forcing you to get rid of your 942, they are not! You, are the one that wants to get a 622 NOW, and because you now can't sell your 942 for $500 or whatever, your pissed. Here is an idea, DON'T go buy a 622 NOW, wait another year or two, Dish isn't making you upgrade, you are the one that wants to upgrade.
If we go back to the computer or Microsoft idea, new processors come out very often, hell six months ago if you bought a Intel system, you already can't upgrade to the newest Dual Core P4's, for you to do this, you would have to go out and buy a new motherboard and CPU (possibly new memory), say $300 (ATLEAST!!!) but because you don't have to have the fastest and best processor, you don't upgrade yet, though if you did, you'd have a faster machine. Same thing goes for Dish, you bought a 942 for $700 1, 2, 3, or 4 months ago, however, now Dish has come out with new receivers and with these new receivers you'll also be able to look at new channels that Dish now offers. With Dish you get new receivers and channels, with Intel you get new CPU and faster machine, however, neither require you to upgrade ANYTHING, it is your choice, if you want faster machine or if you want new channels, it isn't forcing you to upgrade. Like Intel, Microsoft, etc. Dish isn't telling you, YOU HAVE TO UPGRADE, they are simply giving you the option to upgrade. If it was a have too, then your argument would have some ground, but since it isn't forced, and in fact it is voluntary, your gripping about something that you yourself have caused.
Go ahead and move to cable, if you really think Dish is so horrible, but don't try to make it out to be something Dish made you do. If you didn't have to have everything NOW, the whole issue wouldn't be there. Rates go up, that like others have said, is a fact of life. And you lost OLN, but really, how much worth did that channel have? If Dish would have raised the price $4 just because they kept OLN, then raised it the other $3 or $4 that they did, would you be saying what you say? Or would you be gripping even more, because now Dish raised your bill by $7 or $8 instead of $3-4?
And have any of you guys asked the great cable company "how much will my bill be after the promotion period?" I'll bet none of you are paying what you will in 6-12 months. Its like DSL in my area, they are offering it for something like $14.95 a month, however, it is only for the first 6 months then it goes up to $21.95 or something like that. I'll bet your cable company will do something like this too, now it is $55 for instance, but in 6-12 months it will be $108 or some other higher number.