I managed to go for years getting the ST streaming package and never having to get DTV. In early days I was able to sign up for it by lying that I couldn't get DTV at my house and it didn't catch it. Once it did catch up to that, I convinced a friend that had DTV to let me buy/use ST on his account. Then my kids went to college and I was able to use the student package for years. I knew DTV was just looking to get the last cash grabs for ST the last couple years, they've just re-upped my student ST automatically (even though my kids are now graduated), where early on you actually had to send proof of enrollment every year.