No offense meant but I very much prefer this graphic:

THAT aint HD, that Wide screen...

wide screen works when you need a WIDE shot, unless you have FAT people, when you AIM at 1 person, you will get 1/2 the screen empty with WIDE SCREEN when you do single person shots.  Then if you are doing SITTING person and aiming for the TOP sections you will get 3/4 empty shots.

NOW, for HD, and adding MORE pixels....
How long do you want a rendering time?
The more colors, the MORE pixels you put in a Video means it will take MORE TIME to render.  Then add in multiple formats, and rendering BETWEEN THEM..

NOT worth it.

Cranky geeks, is a show that Displays/shows Single person shots ALOT.  There are FEW group shots.
If you really want WIDE screen, Play it on your Machine NOT on the net, UNLOCK perspective on your player and STRETCH it out.

The Difference in SD, over HD is HOW you display it.

If you are trying to display the SD picture on a monitor, and you have it set over 1020x780...ITS GOING TO LOOK LIKE CRAP if you try to enlarge the Vid, Over what it was taken at.

You are still showing a WIDE screen.

The use of a lower res gives him more options, and less rendering time.  he is rendering to 2 mobile formats and 2 computer formats...Can you see how long it would take to render DOWN to the Ipod?? Not counting all the strange stuff that happens WHILE doing it.