A. Most of the Scientific Atlanta 4200 and later boxes have an IR port on them. They have always been disabled but the expense has already been built into them.

B. Number 1 service calls by the typical CI have to do with cable box or satellite IRDs for which we make no profit. The last thing I want to push is something where I make no profit but which has a high rate of service calls.

C. Till the most recent HD Tivo it was a disaster trying to reliably connect one. It required 2 emitters ( one from Tivo and one from the control system ) or you had to let Tivo control the box with all of the delays associated with channel changes managed by the DVR.

D. I cannot tell you how many issues with telephone downloads I had to deal with.

E. The best implementation of Tivo was by the satellite company who integrated the GUI into the box so that it was transparent. Still Tivo connectivity issues to Tivo home but since guide data came in via the D* data steam those issues never cropped up.

F. ReplayTV was so much better but they had no clue how to market and their choice to go with hardware manufacturers as opposed to Tivo's decision t go with content providers determined who survived.

G. Cable cards have only recently become reliable. But Tivo is currently direct to customer only. Do you like selling products for which you make no money but assume all liability?

H DVRs are the most difficult device to integrate since most customers what to watch the recorded programs on more then just the TV they are connected to.

I. Almost every client I've had has purchased cable or satellite DVRs, even if they cost them 2 to 3 times more per month. MSO's have an economic incentive to sell a better mouse trap since they have recurring revenue and an economy of scale. CIs do not. Tivo is no more expensive to the cable MSO then their current designs--to wit the Comcast test of their new Tivo DVRs.
J. Tivo licenses that link to each unit and when the unit breaks you need to purchase an other license. Hard drives fail. Cable and satellite rent you the DVR so a failure is on them and there are no licenses to repurchase

Alan