bigfish, I don't know if it helps you make up your mind, but I know that if I'd started with a 500 then by now it would be for sale as I'd have outgrown it and gone for the 7025 instead. Luckily, I took the plunge and bought the 7025 to start with - twin tuners and room for a hard dish (which was the first thing I fitted) are what sold it for me.