While I no longer watch SmithHD anymore on DirecTV because of all the repeats, I must agree removing it without any notification or explanation has no excuse, even though the contract allows them to do so.
VOOM's removal had notification, and we all knew the reasons, and it was a good move IMHO.
But E* needs to explain their action first.
I can even see the possibility of E* dropping the entire HD-only-channel pack in favor of adding all the other standard new HD simulcast channels, just like what they did to VOOM, if E* has concluded that they don't have enough people paying $10 for those few channels anyway.