I’d be interested in doing some tests to see what the nature of your issue is. But perhaps one reason Microsoft doesn’t appear to be addressing this as an issue is that it is hardware or format-specific.

As for HDTV, the cable and satellite companies really hold all the cards. If I want anything other than over-the-air HD, I have to use a PVR from my cable company or buy Directv with Tivo. There is no other way to get the HD signal from the cable box or satellite decoder to a third-party PVR. And that’s the way they want it, because it means they have lock-in.