Tyralak,
Secondly, Dish Network was the FIRST company to offer a Combination STB (Cable or Satellite Tuner) with DVR capabilities. It was called the Dishplayer, it had firmware from Dish Network and Microsoft's WEBTV as well as DVR firmware written by Microsoft.
The only thing that TIVO invented was "The Idea to Patent" DVR capabilities. Good thing that TIVO wasn't around at the beginning of Home Recording (VCRs).
I get it that many people get all warm and fuzzy feelings from TIVO, but a TIVO is just a DVR just like all the other providers that have DVR capablilities built into STB's or standalone units, or God forbid a Home brewed HTPC DVR.
If TIVO can't survive by getting providers or end users to use THEIR Branded DVR then they don't deserve to survive by holding users of other branded DVR's hostage, with the idea that they themselves copied and then Idea "PATENT" other DVR users out of their unit of choice.
John