12/31 I have to buy a new modem

Comcast sent me a letter today telling me that on December 2 my cable modem will stop working. I need to buy a new one in order to receive their blazing snail's paced no competition internet signal.

Sigh.

So I go searching online and every model that Comcast says they support has at least a few one-star reviews saying that it doesn't work with Comcast in some areas. All the reviews talk about hours spent on the phone with customer support getting the modem set up. I dread that kind of thing.

Has anyone else on Comcast done this around the Pacific Northwest--replaced your own cable modem? I really don't want to rent from them; they get too much of my money as it is. I'd welcome some guidance.