[Stuart]

Sky HD boxes were standard since 2010 and it took 13 years for the BBC to be willing to switch off SD regional news due to the amount of SD satellite boxes still in use. There will be many more SD Freeview boxes and TVs in use for years into the future and I can imagine a lot of Freeview users, particularly older and more casual viewers, have little interest in upgrading to more modern equipment. There were still loads of analogue TVs in use that had to have boxes installed when digital switchover happened. I think you're underestimating it quite a bit.

You can still watch HD channels on an analogue TV with the appropriate STB, you just get an SD quality picture through the SCART connection. If they require a new STB they are £25.

That's hardly the same argument as when switching off 405 Line TV because some people couldn't afford to spend 2 months wages on new equipment to receive colour TV in the 1970s.