Can you elaborate on the "extra shit/discount" you got? I've been an unhappy Comcast customer for years and never knew I could get extras/discounts if I put myself under contract.
Oh, and this article says that any customers can get the new DVR setup just by asking. The "triple play" customers just get it automatically.
I had the extended cable package, but not the sports package and no premium channels. By signing up for 2 years, I got all the sports package, HBO, Showtime and Encore (at least), a phone line (which I don't use) all for a few bucks less than I was paying before. It goes up by $20 in the 2nd year, and to full, arse-reaming, price after that. By then, I hope to have options with which to beat them up, but I'll dump all the premium stuff for sure.
As for avoiding the triple play, I got differing answers on that. Some said I could just upgrade the existing service, others said I needed the whole shebang. However, at every turn, whenever anyone said that I could just upgrade, they ran into the triple play mandate before they could process my order. Essentially, Comcast has upgraded its equipment, but not its phone support staff.
ETA: The article doesn't say that existing, non-triple play, customers don't have to get the triple play package. It just says that non-triple play customers have to ask for the upgrade (at which point, like me, they're told they have to have triple play to get it).