Regarding the channel-changing thing... are you changing channels "directly" (for lack for a better term), or using the guide? My sister-in-law changes channels using the channel +/- buttons. So for each click it takes a second while it tunes the channel. She'll do this even if she's just flipping.
Myself, on the other hand, I'll use the guide. That's what I thought that most people do. I just browse the guide for a few minutes and pow - hit OK and I'm watching something else.
I'll admit that Shaw is slow while "flipping", but I didn't think that anyone did that anymore.
Except my sister-in-law.