Upgrade to new cable box is not free

I am screaming into the wind here, because there is nothing I can do about this. But, while a first world problem, it is infuriating. I had to upgrade my cable box, otherwise, no access to On Demand, which I use because usually I can't watch the things I want at the scheduled time. BUT DON'T WORRY the upgrade is "free".

No it isn't. Apparently, On Demand is only HD. So you get slapped with a $9.95 per month additional fee for "HD technology service." Even if it is part of my subscription, even if it is a channel I already get. Miss 60 minutes? No problem. For an additional $9.95 a month, you can watch it on demand. 

Twice I got charged for this and twice removed, when I complained, because I had mysteriously "ordered" it online. How did I "order" it? By watching something that is a part of my package on demand. 

I hate this. I have no other option if I want to watch TV. Streaming is just as bad now. I would be OK with it all, if I knew there was some legislated carve-out of that money Comcast makes to, I don't know, fund apprenticeship programs. Or building affordable housing. But to make rich people even richer?

So I am <Edited: Language>. I can't watch On Demand any more. At some point, the math will work out and I will have to change my service. Maybe one day, there will be competition. Maybe someone from Comcast will read this and reply with some kind of explanation. I'd like to see how this "improves my experience."