Remote controls are such an underappreciated aspect of streaming media players. While other features such as software, speed, and video format support might seem to matter more, the remote is the what you ultimately interact with the most. Like the bun on a hamburger, it can make or break the entire experience.

Having reviewed pretty much every major streaming device that’s come out over the past few years, I have some opinions on this matter. Head over to the full column on TechHive for a connoisseur’s guide to the media streaming remote landscape, ranked from worst to best.

The big caveat here is that you have make your requests through customer service via phone or email. Vudu says it can take 24 hours to deliver redo credits, so you probably can’t get an instant refund and use it to rent something new right away. Still, it’s nice to get a little insurance if your movie night plans don’t work out.

Sling TV’s DVR upgrade: Sling is lifting a couple of big restrictions from its Cloud DVR service. You can now record ESPN channels, and you’ll no longer have to watch on-demand versions of certain programs if a recording is available. That means you’ll be able to skip the ads in all cases.

Cloud DVR is still a $5 per month add-on to Sling’s live TV packages, which start at $25 per month, but the service is looking like an increasingly better deal as other live TV bundles hike prices.

AT&T’s TV decline: While things are looking up for Dish Network (which actually gained subscribers thanks to Sling TV last quarter), AT&T’s TV business continues to self-destruct. Ars Technica reports that DirecTV and U-Verse are raising rates by as much as $10 per month starting January 19. Basic plans will rise by $1 or $3 per month, with higher rate increases for pricier plans. Regional sports fees will also increase by $1.50 to $2 per month across the board.

On a somewhat related note, one analyst told investors last week that AT&T is “essentially exiting” the live TV streaming business, which launched under the name DirecTV Now but is now called AT&T TV Now … now. The company is reportedly more interested in pushing its similarly-named AT&T TV service, which requires customers to use an AT&T-branded streaming box. The bigger goal, though, is grow HBO Max, which launches next May as a $15 per month Netflix competitor.

I don’t think a shutdown for AT&T TV Now is imminent, but growth is clearly not a priority anymore. The new plan is to squeeze however many customers are too apathetic to switch through routine price hikes, which is also what appears to be happening on the traditional TV side.

Hulu’s binge-friendly ads: Hulu is trying something a little different with commercial breaks for its ad-supported streaming service. Once you’ve watched two episodes in a row of a particular show, Hulu and a sponsor will present the third episode without commercials in the middle. You’ll still see “presented by” ads from the sponsor before and after the episode, but the show itself won’t have any interruptions.

The hope is that advertisers will benefit from more positive associations with their brand, while viewers will enjoy fewer ad annoyances. It certainly beats the cable TV strategy of stuffing record amounts of ad time into the same 30-minute slots.

Meanwhile, Amazon has the HDHomeRun Extend networked tuner for $100, which is $80 off the list price. This is more of a power user solution than Tablo, letting you build your own DVR with a PC or NAS box and DVR software such as Plex and Channels. Unlike the HDHomeRun Connect, which costs less, the Extend has a built-in transcoder that can make smaller recordings and use less bandwidth for streaming.

Also worth noting: Facebook Marketplace is selling Google’s third-generation Chromecast for $20, which is $5 less than the Black Friday price.