We had a Tivo discussion
here, BTW.
I have it; I love it. Although, when you let it record stuff on its own, it gets a little frustrating. It drives my wife nuts.
We pay month to month. I haven't decided about the lifetime membership yet.
As for not having a phone line, I don't know. I know there are some non-tivo DVR's, but without some form of an online TV schedule, the thing is pretty worthless and I don't know how you'd update a schedule without a phone line. Maybe cable will let you do it, but I don't know.