I am a Tivo customer from the first month of its release, and I just became a 942 user. I am satisfied with the dvr capability of the 942. I would not say there are any glaring differences between the Tivo and DISH' 942 dvr, notwithstanding not having to take off the IR window tape from the old DISH box I had when I inadvertently went to a channel I did not get on DISH, while scrolling on Tivo; then finding a channel on DISH which was "acceptable," then tuning the Tivo back to that channel, etc. The unfortunate problem of a less-than-optimal Tivo/DISH interface.
As to the specific issues you mentioned, DISH 942 does have what constitutes a "season pass," one which the user can select new programs to the current season, or all programs, etc. There is also the DISH Pass, which lets you input the title of what you want, much like the Tivo system, with the option of either using the cursor to select letters, or using the remote keypad like one spells out names with a cell phone keypad. One thing to note, DISH only goes out nine days with the program information, not the fourteen of Tivo.
All in all, I would say a Tivo user can make the adjustments easily, without feeling a loss of benefits by going to the DISH dvr. I do like the 30 second skip ahead button, and the multispeed full fast forward, plus it has a five second "rewind" button for those who overshoot the point to start watching (unlike Tivo, DISH dvr does not have the short "default" rewind to account for speeding past the stop point).
I have been a DISH/Tivo user for over ten years, and a DISH 942 user for a few weeks. I would strongly recommend the 942, I have not had a single problem, notwithstanding the apparent tribulations of others on these forums.