DVRs

What can cable DVRs do other than record shows? I know you can set it to record the same show ("season pass"), but anything else?

I've used Tivo since 2001 and I love it. Love the search functions (can search by actor, keywords, etc) and I love that I can set up the directory so I only see channels I want to watch (instead of everything that's part of my cable package).

Over the years fewer cable companies are supporting Tivo (have to rent a separate cable card to get it to work) and I'm thinking about going with ATT Uverse - which doesn't work with Tivo at all (it does work with Verizon and other companies).

I'm having a hard time wrapping my brain around getting rid of it since I paid $500 for lifetime connection and I love the interface, but slightly cheaper cable would be nice (saves $10/month).

DVRs

cable card is alot cheaper then renting their DVR. I rent 1 and couldn't be happier with the cablecard. This is with Verizon. DVR allows me to send recorded show to other set top boxes as well. Having the box also always you to view special pay per view channels and channels that deliver ways to fix your service automatically.

DVRs

We have a TIVO with a cablecard for Verizon and we have DVR's for Verizon as well. I have 3 DVR boxes in my house and they cost me $75/month in addition to the DVR service itself, which is what allows me to record the shows. If I cancelled my FIOS DVR and returned the boxes, my bill would go down by $75+ per month. I have called and confirmed this and once my contract is up in Nov, I will be doing this. Yes, you will miss out on some of the PPV stuff, but there's a Verizon App and you can probably get those things through there if you really wanted to and broadcast them to the TV.
For the cable card I pay $4.99/month.
Even though it may seem cheaper up front, once you add in the cost of the DVR boxes it will be more expensive. Get the TIVO mini (or something like that) to broadcast the shows you record to all the TV's.