Thomas,
You obviously didn't read my post properly or did not pick up on the sentiment.
In answer to your question: "whats the point of paying the least amount for a service which is worse than dreadful?"
I have not found them to be worse than dreadful and any queries have been delt with without any trouble and I have moved house 4 times with TalkTalk and each time I have had an upgraded router.
So I am happy to stay with them and save my £177 or thereabouts compared to BT equivalent.
TRX75 has a good tip the members forum looks to be excellent for sorting out issues although I have not had cause to use it.
I will agree that there is plenty of evidence that that they can provide a shocking service but that has not been my experience, and I am sure that if you look there is plenty of evidence around of shocking service given by other providers.
I think TalkTalk have become the company everyone loves to hate.
A quick Google search:
From Independant online...

It's not so good to talk – BT is named worst landline provider
By Martin Hickman, Consumer Affairs Correspondent
Tuesday, 8 April 2008
BT was voted the worst-performing landline provider

Britain's biggest phone operator, BT, has been named the worst landline provider in a customer satisfaction poll.
In an internet survey of 11,000 customers, BT had the lowest score for all but two of 11 categories for home phones, making it the worst performer in an industry with a poor record of customer service.
Three million of BT's 10 million landline customers are dissatisfied, according to the research for the price comparison site uSwitch.com.

As I said in #2 I am with Bayete and never had a problem with TT. BT managed to disconnect me for 5 days....sorry no according to BT Customer services, the fault was in the house and I would have to pay for any repairs as there was no fault with the line. They eventually came out and yes the fault was on the line. I am saving about £15 - 20 per month by being with TT compared to BT.

Update: TalkTalk beats BT on BT Line
 

Update, FWIW.
BT have not yet unbundled the line where we are moving so TalkTalk cannot provide their service but said I could pay them £14 on top of the £6.99 for free calls to get the BT broadband.

When I said that I may as well go with BT as in that case it would be cheaper they put me through to the cancellation team who gave me a credit and monthly discount which would effectively make the cost the same as BTs cheapest broadband and phone package, for a 12mth contract instead of 18.

Also they give me 40Gb usage Vs BT 20Gb, no fees for going over the limit Vs BT+£1/Gb, free evenings and weekend calls Vs BT just weekends and free international call saver (worth £2/mth with TalkTalk).
:ok:
Couldn't really say no and now I have one of those super BT lines that everyone raves about!

Talk Talk are barely above a criminal organisation, avoid them like the plague if you know what's good for you.

It's like I said at #10... I honestly do believe that you're far more likely to come across an un-happy TT customer than a satisfied one.