I had the same question. I have two Directv R-10's DVR's. Would you consider those the Tivo DVR (I am ok) or the DVR+ (I am eventually SOL).
One I own and the other I lease but when I started my lease they said I could buy it out for around $40.00.
Also, what is the difference between suspending service vs. cancelling and would this change the answer to my first question.
If I temporarily suspend service - will I be able to playback recorded shows from my DVR?
Highly unlikely. I have a HR22. At the time my Ethernet connection didnt work. so this my belief. When you suspend service it will probably instantly send a signal to the box to disable it all functions. I had an issue where a CSR some how in program changes removed DVR Services only. I was watching a show on the DVR and then I could not fast forward or stop it. Everytime I hit a button it said that the DVR Function was not part of my services. I had to call D* to get it added back in then it resumed.
Tivos if you do it will still let you play even afte the 2 weeks but will bug you about not having dvr service active.
I get a nag screen all the time on my old tivos often right after i hit play or if I accticently hit the tivo button when watching a record show . or at the end of a record.
I get a little blue banner at the bottom saying please activate dvr service. I hadve 2 DVR40s