The .tivo files that are recordings of the any ClearQAM channels HD or SD (the local channels whatever else your cable provider broadcasts in the clear) can be copied over to PC with Tivo Desktop (their own app). Playback works as-is with certain players (WMP, KMPlayer). The conversion from .tivo to .mpg (so you stay with one format not 87
and later do some lossless editing) is done using the MAK number that the Tivo displays in its settings menus (they just warn you to not give it away
).
Now, the DRMed, premium channels can't be moved off the Tivo unless you have a soldering iron, a certain chip (to replace), lots of electrician skills, some linux knowledge to load a different kernel on the device and other stuff like that. That is a whole different story.
However with Tivo you're limited to the amount of space you can record (and expanding it is not so easy as expanding the storage on a PC) plus after the first year you pay fees that amount annually to the equivalent of 2 new MC licenses and some change. Obviously I would have no problem pouring more money into MC (already very fairly priced) and stay with a unified solution than into something else.
Now back to testing more multiplexers
.