Well i had Sky free through work for 12mths, i canceled it a few weeks back, but when i rang up and said i didnt want it anymore they tryed talking me around, as a last attempt they said, "we can do you a new subscriber deal" Bingo, Sky+ deal it was.
So now i play this with all my contracts, just got a killer deal from 02 on my phone...
My Sky box is working fine still after 12mths, and never had any problems, i still have it despite having Sky+ because you can use the old sky box and dish as a over gloryfied free view box... After 12mths its your box you see, so make good use of what you have paid for...
The sky maintenance package is a rip of too, where i worked i paid £60 for three years warranty on it...
As for Sky trying it on, sure they are, they have done since day one, but yet again, Telewest or NTL try it on just as much...
Sky+ Box is great by the way, i very rare watch live TV now, i just watched what i missed in the day time, as that seems to be when all the good stuff is on, apart from Disc Wings, but for some reason the good stuff is always on when the soaps are =( this is where Sky+ is a god as i can record it and watch it when the soaps have gone... And when an annoying sales person calls i dont miss half of the programme...