Well, I am certainly not here to be an apologist or cheerleader for HD Radio. I simply don't have a dog in this fight, and really don't care. But, I still get the impression that many miss the point.
To be sure, HD Radio has had a tough road. There are technological issues still unresolved -- coverage on all but the biggest signals is less than satisfactory (I have trouble holding HD on WMFS and WHAL, for instance); HD-1 simulcasts of the FM analog feed offer no real benefit; AM HD is darn-near useless; consumers haven't seemed to grasp the import of the medium yet.
HD/IBOC is transient technology. When FM broadcast goes fully digital, it won't look exactly as it does now. But make no mistake -- the FM band will eventually be digital. Analog is spectrally inefficient, and it makes no sense to stay with 1930s technology. Let us not forget, analog TV has less than a year left now. So, digital as we see it is a stepping stone, the first wave in the change that is bound to come. But, despite that, HD Radio does have its benefits to consumers.
Pressure on traditional broadcasters will continue, and simply force them to look for new media like HD Radio, and the subchannels it provides. Yes, there are few folks out there will HD Radio (though, some car brands are finally offering them). But, over time, there will be more. And some of those new listeners will see the benefits that the extra channels provide -- it is simply cool listening to BBC World Service on WKNO-3 while waiting in carpool line at St. Mary's. But, that's just me.
DE