re: XM/Sirius is getting tougher on the discounts

So what? You don't need any leverage. You tell them you are going to cancel the subscription and you will get a reduced rate. I do it with them every single August because I'm not going to pay the $170 a year or whatever it is. You might not get the reduced rate with the first person you speak with. You might have to say I am cancelling and they will send you to someone like you are going to cancel and that second person will most assuredly offer you a lower rate.

It costs them absolutely nothing to send the satellite signal to you. They would rather get some money from you than no money from you.