Yep. I go with an over-the-air antenna with crystal-clear HDTV picture and Netflix. I just get the sense that more and more people are finally getting tired of the restrictions and rigidity of cable/satellite.
Chef, in/around SF, you can pick up an inexpensive, small set-top antenna and get locals for news/weather, network broadcasts, etc.
As for HoC, I looked at the abstract other day and made a mental note to watch it when I get the time. Netflix also recently added "The West Wing" to their Instant line-up, and tho I'm not of the political stripe of the central characters, I loved the quality of that show, John Spencer and Bradley Whitford most of all. It was everything that teevee should aspire to be WRT writing, acting and production. Holding out hopes for HoC.
The series borrows on themes from a highly-regarded British series of the same name produced probably 25-30 years ago.