The ultimate DVR would have:

ReplayTV software;


2 or more tuners, all available for simultaneous recording/watching;


100+ hours of space at highest quality;


Built-in Commercial Advance algorithm;


Caller ID display on TV;


100 MBit ethernet to interface with home LANs;


Be cool to the touch, so other AV components can be stacked upon it;


Be user-upgradable without the need for an entirely new unit;


Cost less than $200;


MPEG-4 encoder;


HDTV 720p and 1080i support;


DD 5.1 and DTS 5.1 audio;


Maybe an internal line doubler so MPEG encoding could be run on a progressive signal;


Composite (Y, Cr, Cb) video outputs;


TOSLink optical digital audio output;


Internal DVD-RW drive for permanent archiving;


Internal DVD software for playing those DVD-Rs and DVDs;


Firewire <ahem> working, that is <ahem> for output for video editing;


Internal digital cable decoder;


Internal DSS equipment;


Open-sourced DVR operating system so users can enhance the OS themselves in case the media giants intimidate Replay into removing QuickSkip and other user-friendly/corp-unfriendly technology;


Discrete water outputs and internal water buffer (i.e. the kitchen sink).


A man can dream, can't he?