I always thought of a cable box like a car or a gun in the idea that it isn't illegal to own, or even use within the contraints of the law but if you go past that then you are breaking the law. For example, if you tell the cable company you have your own box and you want hbo, then you pay for it and you watch it, if you descramble 10 more channels for free then its illegal, in the same respect that you can drive a car within the speed limit and be fine no matter how fast it is capable of going, but if you do 125 you are breaking the law.
