re: HBO, Showtime, Starz etc fit your bill
I guess your right, and there are some good shows on there, but I never saw enough of what I want to watch to make it worth paying for HBO and such. Now that I'm retired I have to watch what I spend a little closer and getting premium channels is just not worth it to me. :-) Also I can always get my brother, who does get HBO, to record the very few shows I really want to see.