My Mum wants to be able to record HD and normal telly, as simply as Sky +.

Mum = Technology Noob. We have a full HD telly with Freesat and Freeview already.

I have thought of three options and I'm not sure:

1.
Build an HTPC
Pros:
Blu Ray player, big hard disk, can use bits from current PC, can use a pc on telly.

Cons:
Big ugly case, getting the software to work, un-user-friendly?

2.
Buy a Panasonic Freesat PVR
Pros:
Works out of the box, pretty, Panasonic software tends to be user-friendly

Cons:
Smallish hard disk, no Blu-ray player on the one i want, lacks the extras of an HTPC

3.
Give Murdoch too much money
Pros:
Piss easy Sky+, Sky Sports 1 and 2, Just works

Cons:
A colossal amount of money

So what would you do? Any experience with any of these options? Is Sky HD worth it?

I use a htpc.
Using Windows media centre with a remote you'd never know it's a computer (except for if I reboot it).
The wife loves it (and she hates technology), and finds it better to use than sky HD

I got a Toshiba RD-XV4dTKB does video / freeview / dvd (all types) and built in dvd burner but wont do blue ray
and has a 160gig harddisc as well

easy to use, set up,

at about £250

I've got a BT Vision HDD twin tuner PVR + IPTV. Only downside is you need a BT Broadband connection. The kit is free though with Ethernet Powerline adapters and BT HomeHub2. On balance its probably as expensive as Sky though.

It's got to be the Panasonic solution if your mum wants usability - series link works like sky+ and there are no monthly subs to pay. A HTPC would be a gold plated solution that would be too complicated and you'd spend most of your time helping her with it until you got so fed up you bought a PVR anyway.

Asda do a Blu-ray player for £97 if that is essential but unless her TV is 37" or above it may not even be worth bothering with Blu-ray.