Has anyone hooked up an HDTV using an S video cable and composite cables, instead of an HDMI cable?

How much picture quality is lost doing it this way?

My satellite receiver does not have an HDMI port on it. I called Dish Network and can buy one that does have an HDMI port for only $99, but then they charge a monthly $7 HD enabling fee, if I don't subscribe to one of their HD programming packages. How lame is that? The receiver is mine, but I have to pay $7 a month to use it. See you in another life, brother.

ORIGINAL: BlueSteel

Has anyone hooked up an HDTV using an S video cable and composite cables, instead of an HDMI cable?

There is definitely a difference between S-video and component, so if those are your only choices, go component instead of S-video, or you really aren't getting the picture your paid for when you bought the tv. 
 
I know HDMI is better, but component is still pretty good.
 
"I'm your basic bad-postured, guilt-ridden ball of confusion with a trace of paranoia, self-loathing, and a little faith thrown in for some good taste."
-Richard Lewis

Thanks, zjg.  After I made my initial post, I found this website that explains everything pretty well:
 
http://www.lyberty.com/encyc/articles/svideo.html
 
I plan on connecting the TV with S-video and composite cables first and see how good or bad the picture is.  If it's crappy, I'll probably bend over and buy the HD satellite receiver.
 
See you in another life, brother.

I have mine hooked up with composite. Picture quality is excellent. I'm not sure what your goal is but without a HDTV tuner (internal or external) you probably won't get HDTV channels. If you're wanting to pull in off-air HDTV you still need the tuner. If you just want off-air and your tv has an internal tuner than you don't need a HDTV satellite receiver. reality is so unreal