The people crying about the boxes must not have the service.
I went through 5 days of installation troubles with AT&T U-verse but now that it's in and working..... They could put one of those boxes in the middle of my front yard for all I care.
On a more serious note, I think AT&T has learned a few lessons at least around here. Most of the new boxes are smaller than what the article mentions and the majority are in mostly "hidden" areas or near other "ugly" utility equipment. It took me a couple of days to find the U-verse cabinet that services my house, even after the installer told me roughly where it was.
They placed it in such a way that it is still completely accessible by technicians but is surrounded by landscaping so it is hardly visible. (the first installer searched for about an hour looking for it. lol)