I can not believe anyone (Canada or US) would go for the rental.
Think about it. Let's say it is a $600 machine. At @25/month=$300/yr so they are charging 50% interest rate (simple not compound) for ever! Let's say you like the service and keep the unit past the 2 year committ; Five years later, you have paid $1,500 for that unit!!!!
Plus, at that kind of rental, how is it competitive with cable?
or forget about DVR...look at HDTV receiver for $10/month. Compare to SC at purchase price of $200. That is over 50% interest rate. (and I am not including the fact that Bell's equipment cost is likely 40% below retail sale prices so we are pushing 100% interest rate for bell). AND unless I am missing something, you pay another $10/month for the channels so take whatever you were paying and add $20/month for HDTV. I can not beleive anyone is signing up! (Yes, I know Canadians can get "free" rental for two years but they will start to charge you the full amount in two years and we are right back where we started...)
I know some people prefer rental because it spreads the cost but for me, I would rather "pay my self" after the pay-back period and 1 to 2 years is reasonable pay back on equipment that you could get 5 years of service from easy.