Tivo can suck my dick

I bought a tivo with the assuptmtion that I could use it like a VCR, and not have to pay for the service. Turns out that the series 2 tivos are just paperweights without the service. And I don't want to use the damn service. So, if someone can either tell me how to hack the Tivo such that I can use it like a VCR (and have it work), or build me a MythTV box, I'm willing to pay _you_ the $299 lifetime activation fee (for the info), or some money on top of the materials for the MythTV box.