no dvr = what's the point
You bring your own (CableCARD in a retail DVR), or you build your own HTPC DVR.
I started with the latter using analog recording (the old Hauppauge PCI tuners, no CableCARD), then moved to the former (Moxi), then settled again on the latter using an HDHR and a dedicated HTPC.
When I get my own place, I'll also buy my own cable modem to a) avoid the shit-tastic modems that have routers built in and constantly crash, and b) avoid the goddamn rental fees that add up to asinine totals over the life of the service.
Add in the damn box fees and whatnot - you save a ton over the life simply by owning your own hardware.
You do lose VOD/PPV content - but technically, you can still do PPV by ordering over the phone. You get the dedicated channels for PPV, you just lose the two-way communication of the cable box, which prevents streamlined ordering. No way around lack of VOD though, as those aren't actually channels on the line.
When I look at the fact that I have my HTPC on one input, and then a Roku 3 on another input (and a "smart" Blu-ray player, oh and also a PS3 as streaming backups) - I have "VOD" and "PPV" galore. The only missing item would be PPV events like UFC or Boxing - which I'll never actually order myself, but I could over the phone. I'll go to bars or to a buddy's place who will order.