Especially now that their AEP is right on par with Direct but with Direct they include the sports pack. I say Dish is cheaper if you get just a plain ol HD receiver and one of the lowest channel packages available.
That is correct,you can go with a VIP211k that has 1 satellite tuner and 1 OTA tuner buy a EHD pay a $40. one time fee and you have a HDDVR.
What DISH has compared to everyone else is choices,your not stuck with one setup like the other guys.