To me, it was all about the pricing. For my area:
DSL 768Kbps/128 - 14.95 /mo promotional for a year and then 21.95 thereafter. $20 "connect" fee. Free Equip.
DSL 3Mbps/512Kbps - $29.94 /mo promotional for a year and then you're at the mercy of the bit gods. $30 "connect" fee. Free Equip.
B2Xonline.com using the MotoRoger Canopy type system: 1.54 Mbps up/dn. $42.95 /mo + $89 "connect" fee. (This is what I had before I moved back into the city and it rocked)
Adelphia (now CommunistCast) normal: $44.95 Mo + install fee + lease 'cable MODEM' fee.
Adelphia 'high speed' 5Mbps: $54.95/mo + install fee + lease 'cable MODEM' fee.
DirecWay - no matter which way you get it (whether you pay 'up front' for the equip or finance it over the 1st year in higher monthly fees) it ends up costing you ~$1200 the first year and ~$600 the following years. (or $49+/mo after the first year.) Speed is a little over 400 Kbps if you're lucky and 56Kbps up MAX.
Blue Thunder - similar in pricing and 'quality' to Direcway, above.
Dial up - $10.95 and up monthly for speed that matches that of a herd of turtles.
In the end, I chose the 'slower' of the 2 DSL packages available. And it's not terribly expensive, although I think no matter who you choose you're getting ripped off.
Later!
'Fuzz