I think asking about any provider will get you the same reaction as you got here.Some will love it some will hate it...
Frankly you will either be one of the luvvies or you will be one of the slaggers depending on,
a)you go with ntl.
b)What your own actual experience with ntl turns out to be.
Why not REALLY look around and see if you can't get a better deal elsewhere?
Try
http://www.net4now.com/ for some pretty nuetral advice(and not so nuetral if you check the forums) on all the differing ISP's BB offers.