Honestly, they simply don't have the money to keep their plant up to date. They are paying alot to upgrade the plant, but want to reap the huge profits they always have at the same time, so the rates go up while the system is being slowly modernized for all the digital services. Basically, they are screwing the customer in the wallet as a means to try to improve service.
So, if you have a problem, call. If your cable is pixelated, even on 1 station, call and complain. Repetitive calling by people on your node (1 mile or so radius, depending on density of housing) is the only way they'll come out and replace the lines and electronics. They will come hang a new drop to your home, but it is the hard cable that is bad. What they do is equivelant to replacing a faucet when the well pump is only working at 60% capacity.