Hi 'Soapy', I can only make comments based on my own experience. I currently own a manhattan 6800 with embedded irdeto eurocam. This model is very similar in design and functioning to the manhattan 3000. The manhattan 3000 has no embedded cam and retails at around £150-£200 GBP. A suitable cam will probably cost you around £100 extra. I have heard it said that an irdeto 2 cam will work with this receiver. I would personally go for a magic cam v1.04 and loader, available as cheap as £125 (if you shop around). This magic cam will work with all encryption systems found on 6 in 1 files as well as Conax and No Zap (if you like that sort of thing). It is said to work OK with the 3000. (Always remember to check compatability between cams and receivers, there are many known problems so do your research before you match any two products.)
I sometimes have regrets about my purchase and wished I had played safe by buying a Humax 5400 Patched receiver. You can decrypt just about anything with this box, in no small part due to it being the best supported receiver on the net. It is standard kit for just about every serious satellite 'hobbyist'.
When retailers tell you that the 3000 model is patched, it isn't modified by the retailers, it is standard kit as shipped by the factory. This misinformation is misleading to consumers. The humax 5400 is indeed patched in the true sense of the word, as the patch is done by a third party and not the manufacturers.
When you add up the costs of buying separate cams etc, you may start to think twice about this route and consider buying a receiver with an embedded cam which will work on the encryption systems you are interested in.
I can't comment on the technomate as I have no experience of this receiver.
Hope this has been of some help.