Probably but a unit with a hard drive would be a big improvement. Been
using
computers with tuner cards for ~10 years. Comparing a DVR to a VCR or
recording to a disc is like comparing a typewriter to a word processor.
Once
you've paused live TV there's no going back.

I agree about the fee though.

I have a TV card in my PC. But I don't think I can FF or Revwind through
the show. Plus, I have to sit and watch it on the monitor, which is not
very comfortable.