If the original OP is like me, once he buys the HDTV, HD WILL be in his immediate future. He just doesn't realize it yet.
I would have said the same thing.
Well I"m the OP

well with 2 Directivos in the house to replace, I'm not sure I can afford HD

Actually my holdback is the inability to copy HD to DVD (or I should say HD_DVD or Blueray,etc) at an affordable price. I keep old movies from TCM, etc., quite often to watch when "there ain't nothing on".
I realize we're doing a basic shift in the video world but until I can afford the whole package AND until the whole package exists (play, record, burn) I guess I'll stay SD.
I appreciate the help from all who responded.
In a related question, those of you who have an HD Tivo, if you burn a DVD from its output (yes I know DVD isn't HD) how does it compare to a commercial DVD's visual quality?