Yah, I hear that.. while I don't have the "hopper" I went 3 months around and around with DISH Chat/support just to get my Wally to work right. POS and didn't work at all with Winegard antenna, mid sized white roof dome one, and just stayed with my 211z, but I KNOW the feeling...
I was looking at Direct, but just couldn't find the programs I like on their schedule for apx same $$.... so sticking it out with the DISH w/211z receiver and all appears to be working well.. (part of the problem was the Winegard Antenna which I had to ship back to them for fixing, so not all Dish'S Fault, but their Wally just never worked right, kept rebooting etc, went thru 4 of them within 2 months..
So, I know the feeling... I wouldn't begin to get involved with their Hopper.. You might just go back to the old one if possible until they can get their act together.. just a thought, it's what I did..