Depends on your situation and where you live.
For me I'd switch back to cable or stay with D*, either is perfectly valid.
My HOA has a bulk deal with Comcast. Comcast is really strong in this area. Good internet for a decent price. 30mbs for 45 per month is a great deal. Every HD station D* has if not more (except RSN which I watch mostly pro sports so out of market ones are mostly useless to me). So quality and what they offer is pretty similar in the end. Where they differ is on price.
HOA bulk account is paid via dues if I use it or not. If I want to expand service to include Choice Ultimate type selection w/HD it would cost me $27.90 per month. If I want premier it would cost $63.90. Add tivo to that at $15 per month so 42.90 and 78.90 respectively. So a decent price difference for me compared to D* regular pricing and Comcast doesn't want a 2 year contract. They also have a ton more video on demand than D* and it doesn't suck speed wise either.
Comcast DVR does suck. Cable cards are free of monthly sub you can go with Tivo for $15 per month which is more than adequate. The newest update brings the premiere in line performance wise with what it should of been at release. I think D's boxes are equal or better for most things but Tivo is no slouch and far superior to the normal cable box dvr, on par with D* boxes and fortunately cable cards do not add to the cost.
So for me D* is a decent premium cost wise. You also run into the annoyance of the leased gear, service contracts and the possibility of contract issues. I mean you can't even add a box (regardless if you got it from D, if its a HR34 or a crap box single tuner) without a 2 year commitment. Some of D*'s policies are a bit hard to swallow just like Comcast in many areas. Although at least with Comcast you can sign up without any commitments which means I can leave if a rep happens to piss me off or if the service isn't what I was promissed without eating a big ETF. With D* you'll pay one way or another.
Satellite companies love their contracts. Its also probably the single biggest issue that pisses off subscribers. They use them because they can, I don't buy their costs are any higher than Comcast who still has to roll vans for every install, uses similar consumer gear and not only that installs cable to every single house in every neighborhood regardless if its used or not (much less all the empty space with cable runs just to connect it all together). D* launched some birds, has next to zero maintenance after the fact (comparatively) and didn't have to dig trenches, lay cable etc they just install a crappy dish that likely costs them under $25 to make and pay some local sub (no benefits, no comp on D*) slightly above minimum wage to install. Especially now with single wire installs its easier than ever on satellite providers.
So while I have issues with both companies and currently give my business to D* I'm not quite as sympathetic to them as many here nor do I think they are the end all be all of content providers.
