Yep. It's still difficult to get devices (my experience is with DVB-T) that are well supported, especially if you want dual tuners.
I don't know if I'd say its a mess. There are three options that are well aligned with emerging trends: Plex, Emby, and MythTV (to a lesser extent). The rest have a lot of catching up to do if they want to remain relevant.
OP: What about Digital Rights Management (DRM) restrictions? Does that ever create problems consuming TV on Linux?
Our client sought outside legal advice concerning topics of DRM and copyright (we are scientists and engineers, not lawyers). In general, it is illegal to stream copyrighted content (even if you own it) to devices that are not authorized to view the content. The results of American Broadcasting Cos. vs. Aereo, Inc (2014) make it quite clear these statements extends to services that re-broadcast over the air television in a public fashion.