I pay it with no regrets. And have probably come out ahead over the years as 6 721s flowed thru my home.
Dish is tightening up, see other posts. I suspect the folks that feel justified in adding DHPP, getting a repair, and then dropping it, will soon be "disappointed." All Dish has to do is require a one year commitment, and that lost revenue hole will be closed. And it seems Dish is looking to close such holes and maintain revenues.
Like it or not, DHPP is the option. If you want to take your chances, and pay full freight for a truck roll and repairs, fine. But they're giving you the choice, no point in complaining that you should get that service for free.
I lease the trucks we use at the company where I work. The leasing company, the actual owners of the trucks, do not, repeat do not pay for repairs or maintenance. We can, and often do, pay for their version of a Protection Plan, whereby they cover all routine maintenance, or even a full maintenance pkg. But they still do not pay for repairs if something breaks for reasons other than normal wear and tear. Or if the truck crosses 100,000 miles. Or 4 years.
That's how leasing works. No point in our complaining that in our opinion, the leasing company "should" pay for everything since they "own" it.