Equipment

[#1]

According to a manual for the Samsung 3362 cable box, you can connect sa keyboard or mouse to the USB port. Why would you? Does it give you more functions?

[#2]

Most every cable company disables the USB, Firewire, and any other port built into the boxes. 

[#3]

good to use to power up an IR remote extender or HDMI extender/splitter for another room.

USB power is pretty limited though.

 As for all box options listed by the manufacture, most are not available and it's why the cable co's have a box guide specific to their system.

[#4]

They buy them in lots of 500,000  they can even have them lable them if they wished.     Can charge your phone too., if its hot.