So, I tried something, a long time ago, when Windows 8 came out, someone created a Install for Windows Media Center for Windows 8. They created a installer, and it installed on Windows 8 and seemed to work fine with tuners (didn't try it on a cablecard tuner).
For those who are asking, I DO not remember where I got it from but, it was tagged from one of the big tech sites, I know for a fact that it does work on Windows 8 and 8.1..(I have it setup on my tablet). Just one of those endless files I see to have sitting on my Windows 7 desktop (Need to clean it up a little)
So the other day, I tried to install it to Windows 10 (the newest build) and it does not run at all, as an admin or in compatibly mode.
Maybe MS changed something in the graphics subsystem that wont work with WMC ?
That said, cable companies discourage the use of CableCards by making them a little more difficult to get, not including them with bundles, and offering little support. CableCards that are used in boxes other than what the cable company provides represent maybe 1% or so of the market and the vast majority of those are TiVo. In addition, traditional cable TV is starting to become a thing of the past. Soon enough more and more live channels will be available for streaming, and such services as On Demand, HBO GO, or logging into your cable account online to watch shows on AMC or other channels you may have missed are becoming the norm, negating the need for a traditional DVR in many cases.
Your 100% right, Cable companies do not push or give you hard time with getting or supporting cablecards. I have used COX and COMCAST (current) and if you have an issue, it's normally a hassle to get support. After MONTHS of issues (where after about 2 weeks channels would just fall off) and calling every month or so, I finally got a direct number to the cablecard support team and I keep it on a sticky note in my office. After talking to them before, No problems, it's been working for months with out a problem.
The BIGGEST problem with cablecards is their limits. In their current form, they do not support true 2-way communication, So with this, you lose PPV and On-Demand features. Some one who has cable but, not all those features (just basic or extended basic) WOULD LOVE WMC. Also for people who never use those features.
There was a upgraded cablecard that was going to FCC and not sure if it was officially approved but, it would of supported on-demand and PPV. It's been a while from the time I heard about it.
Never mind, WMC was not designed for Cablecard v2, so it would need to be almost re-written to support those features (unless the eHome team started it before they broke up), so even if you could get one, get your cable company to activate it, there is no software or hardware that support it...
Sad to say
Also when WMC for Windows 7 came out, there was a good period of time before the "eHome" team was broken up, there was rumor that they were building a new version of WMC (this is going back a few years).
As we know (at least WMC junkies know) there is no difference in WMC in 7 and 8, they just removed "start when windows starts" and "WMC always on top". In fact the version number did not change.
Would love to see the last bits of what the eHome team created....EVEN SCREENSHOTS...