Just to check with people in the list: what is the video quality that you get when downloading with get_iplayer and playing it with you favourite media player?
As long as there's a High Quality Flash (flashhigh) version available for download, the resultant .mp4 files play at close to VHS quality for me in Kaffeine (Xine back-end) which I find is good enough.
The ITV Player .asf files are noticably worse in comparison, though. Still, beats having to watch them with ads in ...
Peter.