For new customers that's the price. Existing customers pay much more for an HR34, usually, and an HR24 is $199 for existing customers.
If you are willing to cancel you can get an incredible deal to "come back". My 3 series 2 Directv Tivos lost all locals due to a change made by Directv. After several weeks they were still unable to get my locals back or the software upgraded, as a replacement they offered me 1 HD DVR. I asked for an HR34 and two boxes to replace my 3 units and I would gladly take a 2 year commitment, I was told that they were not authorized to do that. I sent an email requesting resolution or that I would be forced to cancel, so they cancelled me as of midnight that night.
Less then 24 hours after they turned my service off I received an offer to come back at a reduced rate and an HR34 and 2 boxes. Now fast forward 2 1/2 months and several "come back" offers later and I just received an offer to comeback at a reduced rate, HR34, up to 3 HD boxes, Sunday Ticket for free, $200 dollars towards cancelling my current providers contract and various other discounts. Honestly if I had known this I would have signed up for basic cable without a commitment and taken this latest offer to "come back".