As long as you dont run a bootloader theres very little chance of bricking it.
If ur just going to set it up and watch tv without using the ondemand, (limited) TSmedia, much better epg and working record function then its not much different.
I like the auto updating channel and epg too.
But these are budget clones so if you can afford up to about £120 theres better boxs out there. But to me these are good bang for buck boxs.
I tend to warn people off the skyboxs as a main tv source from not liking myself but loads are happy with them. Imho