Ok. So as of now, the Whole Home service really won't get you anything. It would be needed for an RVU client.
All the hard work though is required for the HR34 by itself. Later on, then you would only need a coax line running to the room where the client is. Whole Home DVR does have a $3 per month fee, plus the charge for the client.
Did DirecTV specifically say the offer was for an HR34 or HMC, or did the offer just say an HD DVR upgrade?