I just switched from Direct TV to FIOS about 2 months ago. Primary reason was no video on demand with Direct TV. Other than that I had nothing but a positive experience with them.
You do loose signal in a heavy downpour but it does not usually last that long and anything severe your just as likely to loose power altogether so it's kind of irrelevent.
Re: the placement. If you tune it right then obstructions should really not be an issue. At least my situation tells me differently.
When I bought this house I planted a "bush" that I was told would max out at 8-9 feet.
Yeah right.
My signal strength was always in the mid to high 80's.
