Ahh, yes. In the world of cable, basic refers to broadcast channels only. Standard cable refers to non-premium channels. The offering of various levels or tiers was established to give the illusion that subscribers had a choice and weren't paying for things they didn't want. It's unfortunate that cable companies are allowed to have monopolies in specific regions. The customer would be better served if he had several companies to choose from, IMHO.
As for buying a descrambler, I have an almost REEFER MADNESS-esque view of these things. Get a descrambler, the cable company catches you, and the next thing you know, you're knocking over liquor stores and spending so much time bouncing in and out of the slammer, you won't even have a chance to watch TV. <LOL>
Regards,
John (who is terrified of authority figures, getting in trouble, and being yelled at)