Nice post
Although the ntl/vm equipment is free, in as much as you are paying for it in your monthly subs, it should come with a government health warning, the trade off in not paying an upfront fee is hours or days even spent on the phone when the box goes tits up.
The op paints a totally different picture ( no pun intended ) of the weather here in england
I have had no such issues with my sky+ box compared to previous ones from ntl, which were to be honest poorly made, cheap technology.
So the " free " can come with a price, one that far outweighs monetary.
