NTL have gone down in my estimation by removing the option to switch off enhanced content in their new software version. We're heading down the road of enforced red dots to...
Chrysalis -- 92% of NTL's network can get digital, if you look at the figures. You're unlucky to be one of that 8% (LE5, I'm guessing?), but you are a very small minority.
As to P+ prices... for the last two years, NTL have had PPV right for Premiership games, so all they've had to buy in was the studio production from Sky. With the new contracts, NTL no longer hold these rights, and so will have to pay Sky for them too. Thus their costs go up, and so it's likely that the price will go up to match.