IMO one should pick their multichannel provider based on the programming choices offered NOW, not what they might offer in the future. Do your research, make your decision, and then don't fret it. If a newer/better provider emerges in the future, then reconsider.
No, it is not the same I tried that. All it does is bring only the sports channels you already have in the current particular favorite list.
For example I do not have all the Regional Sports Channels in any of my favorite lists. However I would like to know what sports are on right now and coming up (up to 24 hours) even on channels I do not have on my favorite lists. Dish Network gives you that in the themes list option.
The closest I found is in the Menu. It is a program search. However you cannot search for just Sports. I have to enter BASEBALL, SOCCER, FOOTBALL, or other keywords.
If you have never had Dish or if you did and never used that nifty feature then it might be hard to understand its usefulness.
I would assume that many people would not care to know what is on channels that they do not get, otherwise they would add them to their favorites list, but hey, everyone is different. You could always change to all channels, then use the theme lists.
For what it is worth, I have dish also. I just rarely use that feature on D* or E*