Had the same $15 charge option when I called to CXL yesterday. Gave the CSR what for when she asked me if I was sure I didn't want to transfer service to a friend or relative! lol
Anyway, they said they could give me the shipping label for $15, or I could pay to have it shipped back via the method of my choosing. I'm looking into Pony Express rates right now.
Dish wasn't bad, IMO. Just didn't have the channels I wanted. Lots of crap and fluff, not enough substance on the channels that mattered to me personally. I mean, how many people get Dish Network because they have The World Fishing Network? I know there's a market for it, I just don't think it's very large.
The average consumer appreciates quantity. The educated consumer appreciates quality. Not to say you can't have both, or that only one provider can give both to you, but Dish no longer met my needs.
For what it's worth, maybe it's just the honeymoon phase, but the HD on D* really does seem sharper and more vibrant to me than it did on E* using the VIP 722. And that seems like an AWESOME package you got, Islandguy... If Charter had something like that, I'da been hard pressed to not try it myself.