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I have a pair of Samsung SIR-T351-era tuners, both first-generation ATSC equipment. Although they have VGA output, their RF sensitivity is downright lousy, and I never did figure out the problem I had with both, where they didn't output true component video....the sync signal was not supplied on any of the 3 video channels, regardless of the setting of the 480i/p/720/1080 switch.
I've also got an inhouse NTSC distribution system that I'm not likely to be retiring anytime soon. It feeds from a DirecTivo box most of the time, but occasionally a laserdisc player, VCR, and a DVD player. I have centralized video distribution for everything, and have yet to run across an ATSC modulator I could use to distribute ATSC everywhere in the house.
Although I have a satellite feed for broadcast, I'm not interested in setting up and paying for multiple boxes at $5/a pop. Those sets aren't watched enough to justify the expense. That, and I couldn't feed my DVR to them either. I'd love if the tuners could receive NTSC and ATSC alike, but that's asking too much. I've never seen an external ATSC tuner that would do NTSC as well. And how about an NTSC to ATSC converter for all the legacy equipment that's out there -- either S-video or composite input to HDMI or ATSC RF would be fine. There wouldn't be an appreciable loss in resolution since both are out-trumped by what HD can do. You wouldn't have the same issues under ATSC with RF outputs. In fact, it's quite a convenient distribution medium.
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