Please help - Skype call reliability has been very poor since June 2009

I have been a user of Skype for the last two years or so. Then, Skype was unreliable at best, requiring frequent "redials" to chat with my contacts. Steadily, the call quality and reliability improved to the point where, after I had gone two months with no dropped calls I decided it was time to let go of the "Vonage" rope and grab on to Skype with both hands. I dumped Vonage and signed up for Skype out, and got a Skype in phone number. I use it every day, sometimes for long periods. Two months ago I remember remarking that I had a 7 hour (that's right - seven) video conversation with a co-worker. These facts, together with my constant promotion of Skype to friends and family have resulted in a large number of people signing up. Ahh... those were the good old days.

Today, I'm very sorry to report that reliability has dropped off considerably. After convincing nearly everyone I know to sign up for Skype, we're rarely able to keep a video going for more than 10 minutes. I have not changed ISPs or any settings or hardware. Everything is same-same. In fact, iChat, Yahoo Video - every other video chat service works fine. The harbinger of things to come was yesterday when my boss said, "Let's just use iChat from now on." When those words are said, the end is near my friend.

I know the response to this message is going to be that there is something wrong with my settings or my ISP or some b.s. like that. "Everything looks good on our end - must be you."

BUT how about this:

I am SO SURE that there is a problem with Skype that I will put money on it. I will bet you my next YEAR'S worth of Skype bills that you can call me or I can call you and the call will drop in LESS THAN 10 minutes. Then, we can call each other using ANY OTHER video chat service and the call will last MORE THAN 10 minutes. If I am not correct on both counts, I will pay DOUBLE for the next year of my Skype service. No kidding. This is in writing. Please hold me to it. If, however, I'm right about my claim, then you have to give me Skype in and Skype out free for the next year. Not that I'll be able to use it, but I'll have it in case it gets fixed.

Any takers?

PS. I already tried submitting a support request to Skype online but, perhaps conveniently, it's impossible.

PPS. I really don't care if anyone takes my bet. I just want someone from Skype to acknowledge there is a problem and fix it. There seems to be someone from Skype (Peter) who reads this so I decided to post here in the hopes that HE can submit a support request.