Using the software in your box currently and then modifying it is hte same as using a cracked copy of Windaz XP, aka illegal under all the piracy laws that exist.
As per my previous post I disagree with this point. It is prohibited within the licensing terms of most software these days, but that doesn't make it illegal.
Infact your post just highlights my qualms about the tactics of software vendors in throttling free debate on this subject. I've lost count of the number of websites which will equate modification of software as the same as copying ilegally and the two are simply not comparable.
There are no instances under which you can legaly crack and use software which you have not paid for and have no other rights to use.
However, there are instances under which your fair use rights would supercede the "no alterations" clauses in software. IMO this is definately one of those cases. As without altering the software key parts of the hardware you have purchased are useless.
The following is a facetious example to highlight why fair use rights exist and are important:
You buy a laptop from company A, who has licened the bios/firnware/other sw in the laptop from company B. The bios/firmware/other sw on seeing internet access checks for an update with a server and stops all other activities until it receives a response. Company A goes bankrupt and Company B cuts all access to the server for its products.
Without our fair use rights, in those circumstances you would be at the mercy of Company B. Or have to rely on someone to rewrite the bios from scratch. Infact it would be perfectly reasonable for someone to release code to nop that update check, and company B (license terms/IP rights and all) would hold little chance of preventing that.
Part of the charges thast you would be paying to Sky includes an element of licensing fee payable to content producers to allow you to record content on your hard drive.
However, since you no longer sub to any of Sky's sub channels you wouldn't be able to record those, therefore would not be liable to pay those charges.
The £10 Sky+ charge is for the EPG data, as if there were any licensing fee's payable to FTA/FTV channels, you'd have to pay a recurring charge for any PVR capable of receiving those channels. Which ofcourse you do not, thankfully