Problem creatively resolved but with bizarre twist

I sent a nice email to Directv's CEO, Chase Carey, explaining this mess and they called me the next day.

"This is so and so with the office of the president..." they said.

I was a bit confused before why they said they'd take back the dvr after all but in same breath were telling me I couldn't get a refund. Well I found out why. It turns out that the $300 I spent on their new piece-of-crap dvr (that won't let you transfer your old programs and isn't Tivo or tivo-like) wasn't to buy, but to lease!

What the heck? Why would I lease a dvr for $300? Isn't a lease like where you pay a small amount each month; basically renting it?

I had absolutely no clue this is what I had gotten myself into and caution anyone else not to make the same mistake. This is where it nearly got worse.

I told the guy this was making the situation even worse than before, that I'd never lease something like a dvr, especially for $300.

They graciously agreed to credit my account the $300, but at some point I'm told I'll have to convert when their existing channels get turned off and moved to their new system.

Yeah, but I'll take the free one from their automated phone call that said I could upgrade at no additional cost.

Yeah right. That's probably going to be a non-hd dvr too. If I want the hd dvr I can pay the $300 lease fee I bet!

Then I'll be back where I started.