It's simple. Blame the Cable providers. Clear QAM = Unencrypted. You need to pay.
ESPN and more than 90% of the other channels are almost always encypted.
Only the free to public and cheap channels are unencrypted, at your service provider's SOLE discretion.
If you want to see all Channels in Full HD, this card will not do that.
If you want to see all channels, regardless of encryption, and change all of those channels from your computer, this card will not do that.
With a little understanding you can get by, but the "Full HD expereince" on premium pay channels or any encrypted channel will not be received on this system.
You can set it up to display the output from your cable box, which is what you are doing when you put it in the chain (From your outlet to the cable box to the computer /combo card)
but...
You will get a downgraded resolution and will have to change channels from the cable box.
Comcast (or whoever your provider may be) almost certainly won't allow you to recieve a full HD picture on Premium channles without ensuring they are being paid for and protecting the content.
The logic there:
If you can't record it on your computer in full HD, then you wouldn't be able to copy and share it with somebody who is not paying for the service, so others would need to get the HD service, simply for the envy factor.
That's why you have the cable box. Your cable box is simply a computer that they have full control over.
They can change your digital service (turn off or allow/disallow channels based on your payment and channel packages). All the decrypting is done there and not from the HUB. They have control centrally, but your cable box is the key.
You will get the most channel selection from Analog or by harassing your cable provider about the clear QAM.
Chances are that we will see a CableCard that they may introduce that costs us a fortune to "rent" from the provider.
In short, this card won't do what you are looking for.