You don't have to have a land line to have satellite TV regardless of what you might have heard. The only reason that Dishnetwork and DirectTV tell you need one is to facilitate ordering pay for view features. If you have a landline connected to your satellite box, then you can order pay for view using your remote. You can still do pay per view via the internet or from your cell phone. Of course the satellite guys have figured out that you'll order more pay per view if you can use your remote. They may tell you it is 'required' but if you push you'll find out that 'required' is not really required to subscribe to their service.
But other than that you are correct, there are other disadvantages to satellite vs. cable. Of course, in my neck of the woods, cable is not an option so there are advantages to satellite as well. BTW, in my neck of the woods, over the air is not an option either.
Why? Too far? Hills? Trees?
Just curious.