It's very interesting to hear how some of these companies are acting during these trying economic times. I haven't read any correspondence where the company tries to keep the customer (as I'm sure some have) but these nickels & dimes charges must have come down from higher ups in one of those Monday morning corporate meetings where they claim cost cutting is an high priority & could involve all your jobs.
My DTV story is the exact opposite as I could get TCI to bring the cable to my house but they were unwilling to do any cable work once inside (this was an old house with flat wire cable throughout) (This was also right before Christmas & I offered both tech's a nice paycheck if they would update my house in their free time). I went to CES, then in Chicago, saw the DTV RCA crap-shooter & the rest is history. Those same TCI installers came calling after Christmas, perhaps a G.I. Joe or two in debt, offering to do all the work.
Haven't touched their products to this day & am looking forward to UVERS for my ISP which is right around my corner.