grahamlthompson
No pirate would ever bother with a consumer pvr they would buy a HTPC PC or a generic FTA HD satellite box. Humax don't release sales figures but it was a very popular pvr (I have two). I have a Vbox IP connected box that records up to 4 HD channels across up to two transponders, records to USB and streams across my network also can view recordings anywhere with WiFi on tablets and smart phones as well as my TV's. Cost less than £100.00.
I think you have misunderstood what I'm saying. I accept a pirate is not going to bother with a PVR. However, it's down to piracy in general that broadcasters and film studios have now gone to great lengths to lock down media devices wherever possible. The fact you can't copy HD content but you can SD is a case in point. As said earlier in this thread that is why EE had to hobble their media device i.e. under threat of legal action from the broadcasters.
Why are the present generation of PVRs far more restricted than those earlier boxes? In the main it's because modern media is digital not analogue thereby enabling the end user to make perfect copies, or could do but for restrictions.