The sky HDD recording system that everybody agrees is so simple to use compared to your average VCR relies on the programme start and finish data which is also transmitted with sky signals. It is this data which enables the system to work in the way it does. The system can also cope with changing schedules when using the "series link facility". Such data is not available from the terrestrial analogue transmissions, and although it probably is from the "freeview" digital system, I suspect that there is not yet a sufficiently large customer base for this system yet to make the availability of a recorder financially worthwhile. Of course in the future anything and everything will happen, particularly when the analogue transmitters are switched off. Then, I suspect, you will be able to record your favourite programme on a hard drive and then press another button to transfer it to a DVD if you wish.
By the way, did you know that our American friends have a further facility on their equivalent of our Sky recording boxes: It is a button on their remote controls which skips 30 sec of recorded material. Just the job when you are watching your recorded prog and come to a commercial break. 2 minute advert? four clicks and it has gone! Apparently there has been a lawsuit over there to try and get the facility withdrawn which did not succeed!
Of course - they won't let us have that - yet.
P.P.