Congratulations and welcome to the world of DBS! Sounds like you did your homework and were a well-informed consumer.
It shouldn't have to be this way, but self-education is about our only salvation when buying things or seeking information.
I've made a point of asking salespeople at electronics stores what the status of the E*/D* merger is. Of the six(?) people I asked so far, only one knew the real status. The others all claimed that the companies had already merged. Some gave detailed "facts" that were completely off-base. I never challenged or corrected them, but I certainly won't rely on their advice in the future.
It shouldn't have to be this way, but self-education is about our only salvation when buying things or seeking information.