I had DirectTV DVR service last year in my fraternity and people moved
out and now new people are moving in and a new person is starting a
new service plan.  The directtv guy on the phone is saying I need to
buy ALL need equipment from them with the new order to activate my
tivo.  This cannot be right.  The activation card in the tivo is
identical to the other cards.

How can I use my old (which is less than half a year old) RCA DirectTV
DVR 40 gb tivo on my new direct tv plan?  Other people are ordering
boxes, do I just order a normal box and take the card and tip the
direct tv guy when he comes?  Or is the guy on the phone at direct tv
right and I have to buy an entire new tivo system which would be
ridiculous.

I think the DTV guy means you need to buy programming + DVR service
(extra $5/month). DTV give you DVR free any way. You still have to pay
for Programming + DVR service with new box or old one.  Bottom line -
it does not matter. (but if you really want to use the old box, you
can, i asked this question when i sub. for service 4 month ago) if
rep. gives you hard time ask to talk to manager.