Maybe you are used to pressing numbers, but I certainly never used them . The menus are better laid out as well , so there is less need to go through them. Additionally, there is one button access to the DVR menu, which is what I use the most anyway.
Its not that I'm use to pressing numbers.. but its faster to recognize Menu-8 .. preferences, or Menu-6 system setup .. etc.. than menu, cursor, cursor, cursor.. etc..
And when you go through tech support, or need to get to dish pointing for yourself... they rattle off menu # combinations (their interactive menus have them listed at the bottom of the screen) 6-1-1 is faster to get there than menu and cursoring everywhere and its less problematic if you can give straight number combo's to someone to get them to the exact screen you want them in.
The UI for the 922 .. yes pretty .. some features are nice.. some of the extended info for shows is nice ... but like you said.. 70 dollars for you on 2 years for others it would be 96 dollars (2 years @ +$4), and if you're doing the 49.99 package, thats nearly two months worth of service ... I'm also guessing you didn't have to pay the 200 to upgrade.
So the total combined, before Dish became so generous .. is roughly 300 bucks. And I'm not being bitter about the costs ... clearly I don't want one, its just that with the 922's past there *is* reason to warn people for cost and failures all for a "pretty" UI as the only substantial benefit.
last part though ... not sure I follow about that "one button for DVR" .. its marked pretty clearly on the 722's remotes too, double press the DVR button, woot there it is.
(sorry there's no "party over here" smiley icon)