They could put in a small LP/12v/110v fridge, Pop up and Class B Campers have them, but they aren't as cheap as a dorm fridge. Score one for cost savings.
I'd say the vast majority of Class A's I've seen have a box that can send the signals to the other TV with the press of a button, it's a wiring challenge but it works. Score two for cost savings, no box and they didn't have to hire somebody that knew what they were doing to install the wiring.
As for the multiple connections, there should be one for Satellite and one for Cable/TV. So this is score three for cost savings. But like above, this is also so they don't have to have good wiring diagrams and a person that knows what they are doing IMHO.
Sadly with all the glitz and glitter they put in the RVs it's a distraction for issues like you've found... until you are home and want to use them.