Surround Sound

Why are there so many diferant cables need to connect a surrond sound box to a tv and a cable box?

I mean you have scart, Hdmi then component and also audio leads, why> so many, why can't there just be one cable type that does what ever it has to do and you just plug it in to each box?

I have had to buy a new surround sound box, nothing wrong in that I suppose as the old one did last a few years and it did get used very heavily.

Now because things have moved on (and not necessary for the better) I find that I need a optical cable to link the surround sound box to the cable box as that is the only way the surround box can get a digital signal... Why?

So as its Sunday I will now have to go get an optical cable from somewhere so that I get sound from the cable box on the tv.

Hissed off is what I am, wish that the audio and tv companies could get it all sorted.

And no before you say anything none of my tv or cable box is older than 2 years.