[BattleZone]

Hello,
Does the HD DVR need to be connected to a landline or internet connection?
If not, is there a charge for not having this connected?

Dish will charge you a $5/month "second room" fee for any 2-output receiver unless it is plugged into a phone line (or for HD receivers, the Internet). So, no, they don't require the connection, but if you don't have it connected, you'll pay more. It is likely that HD DVRs with an Internet connection will have features that make the Internet connection valuable, but there's not much yet.

The ViP612 is an HD-DVR that only feeds 1 TV. There's no connection needed for that box.

I live in Tacoma Washington and would be interested only in HD programming, would I only need one dish mounted?

How large are the HD capable dishes?

It seems that most folks in the PNW are getting 2 dishes, with a larger (24", vs the standard 20") dish pointed at 129, which is where most of the HD is. That's because the 129 satellite is old, weak, and failing, and with all of the rain up there, you need all of the signal you can get.

Since Dish wants a 24 month commitment does anyone know if that commitment is binding if they have been found to violate the patent with Tivo? Would I be able to leave Dish if they could no longer offer DVR service for a period of time?

The commitment is to keep Dish programming. DVR service is irrelevant to the commitment, so that's not an "out". The ETF for Dish is, IIRC, $13.33/month remaining on your commitment.