...so I see from M.Ted's comments that Verizon is still an untrustworthy company. (Not that Comcast will win many awards, but "the Devil you know", huh?)

I too, have trees that might make it hard to use Direct TV, but their ads all say "oh, it's just propaganda that you can't get our signal..." etc...

Verizon might be just fine for many folks who have just the right location & configuration, but I don't want to test it and have to start over if it fails.
I also don't see how they can possibly use cable wires for a connection delivered over phone wires.....and I KNOW I don't have fiber-optic from the street to the house.)