Just to close this issue out: I called one of the stores about an hour away from us (Fayetteville, AR) and they said they did have CableCards and tuning adapters (unlike our local Fort Smith location). I happened to travel to that area and was able to pick up the equipment. Activation via the CableCard activation number went without a hitch.
So I guess the resolution of my original post/question is that the initial info I got from the in-store rep in Fort Smith and later via chat was incorrect. At least as of June 2023 Cox does still support CableCards, but you have to pick up in store rather than ordering for direct shipment.
