Audio Systems: connect a Yamaha receiver, sharp aquos, scientific atlanta 8300hdc

Question
Hello,
I would like to connect the following components together in the best way possible.
Sharp Aquos LC42-D64U TV
Sharp Aquos BD-HP20U blu-ray player
Scientific Atlanta 8300HDC cable box (Brighthouse Networks)
Yamaha RX-V863 receiver

The Blu-Ray is connected via HDMI from player to receiver and HDMI from receiver to TV. It works fine and is no problem. Here is the rub: when I get up at 4AM, the news does not  need to be in surround sound, so I would like to play the TV and cable box without the AV receiver. As I read the Yamaha manual, the receiver's on screen menus are only available at the HDMI output. If I connect the cable box via HDMI, to receiver to TV, the receiver has to be ON at ALL times in order to see the menus.

As I see it, the S.A. Explorer 8300HDC cable box will only give me 1080i video and DD5.1 sound anyway, so there is no advantage in running the video through receiver. I could connect the cable box directly to the TV's input 1 using component video and the R&W audio cables. Then a digital coax cable from cable box to the Yamaha. That would allow me to turn on the Yamaha for selected programs, But I would NEVER be able to access the receiver's on screen menus!
AM I missing something here? Is there a better way? What do you suggest?
Thanks for your help and I hope this note is not too confusing.

HERB

Answer
If you're still using the HDMI for the BluRay, aren't you able to access those menus?

Does your cable box allow the HDMI and Component video to be outputted simultaneously (some brands do)?

I've seen some of these "on screen menu" devices, and I found it ridiculous to put in a useless "feature" such as that. I don't understand he reasoning behind making it an HDMI only feature...