At the time, FireWire 400 (and later 800) was significantly more reliable and faster for sustained video transfers than USB 2.0. Current Status
While largely a relic of the mid-2000s, FireWire DVRs (Digital Video Recorders) represent a unique era of high-definition recording where "FireWire" (IEEE 1394) was the primary interface for high-bandwidth data transfer between cable boxes, external drives, and computers. What is a FireWire DVR? A FireWire DVR typically refers to one of two setups:
At the peak of its use, FCC rules required cable providers to include an active "IEEE 1394" (FireWire) port on their HD set-top boxes to ensure consumers could connect third-party recording devices.