have had all - cable, direct, dish - since moving am currently with DISH, used to go out all the time because we had major trees but the new location has a perfectly clear shot of the sky and so far so good fingers crossed..
WHAT BOILS DOWN TO IS THE CUSTOMER SERVICE SUCKS BIG TIME ANY OF THE THREE, think Time Warner cable was the worst because made the mistake of ordering a package off the net instead of with a "live" local operator - when went to change a few things on it was told they can't assist, you have to talk to their "net" department in India and you're transferred into oblivion...
anyway what have learned the past few years is go with what's cheapest between Direct and Dish, sign up for a special promo package on Dish and when it's about to expire call them up and try to cancel service and they'll extend, then just keep doing it - am on my third round of free HBO/Showtime etc. just call and say you want to cancel... they're all idiots, really...