I actually cant afford a high def t.v either so I'm stll using a normal t.v that was given me. But I'm still glad the option is there when I get the money.
As it happens, I'd rather spend my money on music and hifi equipment, as I only watch about 3 - 5 hours max of t.v a week, and then thats mostly news.
As the other bloke said, your not charged for radio, so your getting a service free of charge, from the people who have paid thier license fee.
Regarding the comment about this forum being split 50/50 on opinion about the BBC and its license fee, research by the BBC says the figure is 4 in 5, feel proud of the BBC and I guess happy to pay the license.
I dont work for the BBC but I just think that its good that the British people have something that is ours, which is not up for sale (yet) like other british firms like cadburys etc, and then is totally wrecked by the new owners and what has been achieved is lost.
We have to keep something ours, otherwise we might as well put the whole UK, on ebay to the highest bidder.