Let me start by saying I am not a sat sub now (still on Cable waiting to make the jump). Based on what I see happening in the last 12 months with Dish and Direct, I think it's quite clear that Dish is going for the low end market who wants something a few dollars cheaper and doesn't care so much about having all the HD channels and all the sports channels and all the package options. This is just one example... they obviously don't care that they are way, way behind on national HD channels and don't feel a sense of urgency about getting them rolled out.
Direct is going for the upscale market who has HD and wants all the sports, channels, and packages.
Since I am in the "upscale market" I am 99% convinced I'm going with Direct when the time comes. I'm really just waiting for them to roll out their single-cable solution (SWM enabled dish) so I don't have to run a bunch of RG6 out of the dish.
I don't mean to turn this into a dish vs. direct war zone but I just wanted to point out that this little episode only reinforces people who think like me. Dish apparently doesn't really care that they are moving glacially slowly on national HD rollout.