The manufacturers whined and moaned when UHF tuners were first required-"This will make TV sets too expensive". They did the same when 'click-type' UHF tuners were mandated. They did the same when Closed Captioning was required... and again when V-chips were required. (Have I forgotten any 'mandates that were resisted by TV manufacturers'?)
Now, TV sets are higher-performance and less expensive than ever, despite all of these mandates... is there any reason to listen to the manufacturers' latest 'cries of doom'??
I have a standing bet with several friends and family members: "One year after digital tuners are required in 13-inch TV sets, I will pay the entire cost above $100 for each of them to buy such a TV". This price is based on the common low price for a non-digital 13" TV when I made the 'bet', a couple of years ago. Notice that there is no 'benefit' to me in the 'bet'-it is just a one-way thing. I do not expect to be spending a bunch of money in ~2008!