I refused to pay extra for HD cable, primarily because the Comcast was down-converting to lower resolution and charging a LOT more if you wanted programming in the native, higher resolution.
When I quit them and reverted to an OTA, I was amazed at how much better the picture and sound quality was for a one-time price of $39.99 per TV.
“down-converting to lower resolution”
Many times when distribution outfits do this the screw up audio/video sync. down-converting delays video a frame or more, while the audio is pass thru. The human brain can’t handle sound before image. In the real world sound can come after image but never before. Think of big theatre where lights is instantaneous and the sound takes time to travel to back of room.