You don't understand channel bonding if you think it will make no difference on a standard tier.
Maybe he has tons of money....in that case saving some now I guess makes sense if he wants to invest what he saved or needs what he saved for something he must purchase very soon and then in a year, or even two years from now, TWC upgrades his area and he has a modem that is only one or two years old and now is worthless but he will have plenty of money to go purchase another modem to replace a one or two year old one. Ok, in that case then what he did is fine. But if he has tons of money why would he buy the cheaper modem that is not at all future proof? Modems last many years (6-8 or more) if on a UPS and handled carefully.
Most folks want to be somewhat future proof and take that into consideration when buying electronics. If there is no promotion in a few months (and TWC has cut way back on promotions), when my promotional year is up with TWC, I will be going back to the Standard tier. When I have a little more money, I plan to buy my modem and I will be buying the 6141 because I understand how much better it is to have 8 channel bonding than 4 channel even on the standard tier. I also understnd why it is better to have a DOCSIS 3 modem on the standard tier rather than a DOCSIS 2 one on a DOCSIS three plant. I will also be purchasing the 6141 because I can't afford to replace equipment often and I want a reasonably future proof modem.
30 miles outside Columbus is nothing. I lived 40 miles outside Columbus and commuted to OSU and part time work. Part time work was on the opposite side of Columbus and back then the outer belt loop was not complete on my side which would have made a short commute to work so I had to use the belt for almost a full circle but that was nothing .....it was still the Columbus metro area and that was many years ago (so maybe things have changed radically or may be not - Ohio back then had fabulous highways and interstates). So, I am not sure what being outside of Columbus has to do with it. (Long live the Buckeyes and Woody Hayes)!
Sounds to me like you might be a bit jealous of folks in Hawaii? I haven't thumped my chest. You should go back to 2001 threads in this forum and read some of my and Konaguy threads and posts up to the current time. You have little understanding of of the history of Road Runner and the Big Island. It is actually funny to see someone accuse me of bragging about Road Runner (which is what it will always be to me) on the Big Island. We were both accused for many years in this forum of complaining way too much about Oceanic and RR in Hawaii and were told to shut up because we complained too much and no one on the Mainland cared (but they cared enough to be ugly in this forum). Now you accuse me of bragging too much....that is really hilarious!
I'm sure the OP can decide what is best for him. You and I have given him reasons for each choice and now he can make a more educated decision.