I did some research on this and it was fascinating to discover that all of these connectivity issues go back to big corporations and the all mighty dollar. Big surprise, huh?! Intel is already getting a nice chunk of change from Apple since the switch from Power PC. Now it seems that for Apple to make their devices HDCP compliant, they will likely have to pay Intel even more $ for the use of this technology since Intel owns the rights/patents to it. Check this link out for more info on HDCP:
http://www.digital-cp.com/
Also, this is a bit of a segue, but it relates to this topic of HDCP:
If you want to add a Blu Ray drive to your Apple hardware (internal or external), forget about it for now, especially if you want to watch Blu Ray content. Commercial Blu Ray content driven through HDMI (which is HDCP compliant by nature) will not play on any Apple equipment right now. Think about it... wouldn't Apple have had Blu Ray drives as a build to order options on Mac Pros and higher end iMacs/MBPs by now? Apple doesn't want to fork over any more of their hard earned $ to Intel, just to have the privilege of being HDCP compliant, and I don't blame them a bit.
It is a shame that large corporations out there continue to dictate policy and the way things are done. For now, it seems that you have to have a non HDCP VGA/DVI port or a Component Video port on your TV to view purchased/rented HD content from Apple TV. Until HDCP is somehow hacked, or until Apple comes up with their own plan to circumvent this problem (maybe come out with their own proprietary connectors to drive secure HD content), we're all stuck.
If you dig even deeper on this, I've seemed to get a strong buzz that the MPAA eventually wants this technology implemented with all HD content going forward to eliminate hacks of their works.
If anyone finds out any more info on this, I'm sure that everyone out there would be very interested to hear more, especially if you are considering the purchase of a new TV, Apple TV, Apple desktop, or a new MBP/MB.
If this evident feud lasts long enough, we might even see the return of the Power PC (Powerbook G5 and Power Mac G6 anyone?)! Let's keep our fingers crossed...